Posted on 08/12/2009 3:07:07 PM PDT by kingattax
A Texas congressman, worried about disruptions at his town halls, wants to weed out people who want to attend but don't live in his district.
Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) has announced on his website that he will require attendees to show photo identification to get into his town halls to prove that they're his constituents. He said that he's doing so in response to a "coordinated effort to disrupt our town hall meetings."
"While I regret this restriction, it is necessary for the safety and consideration of our constituents," Green said in a statement on his website. "Those who do not reside in the 29th congressional district should contact their member of Congress to voice any concerns that they may have on issues before Congress."
Green, who says town halls are one of his "favorite ways to communicate with constituents," held four town halls earlier this month. He is now out of the country, but he has four more scheduled from Aug. 18 to Aug. 21.
Green spokeswoman Brenda Arredondo said that sign-in sheets from previous town halls have shown that as many as eight in 10 were not from Green's Houston-area district. Attendees were asked to list their addresses, and many listed addresses in neighboring districts.
The town halls have also featured some of the same shouting and interruptions seen in many town halls during the bitter August debate about healthcare, Arredondo said.
"We've actually had multiple constituents ask us to restrict access," Arredondo said.
His decision drew derision from Republicans who noted that he voted against a Republican amendment that would have required Medicaid recipients to prove they are citizens by showing photo ID.
"It’s just a tad ironic that while Congressman Green forces his own constituents to produce photo ID simply to attend a town hall meeting, he doesn’t feel it necessary that people who receive government subsidies should do the same,” said Brad Dayspring, spokesman for House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.).
In a statement, Green said Cantor's criticism is misdirected.
“Services to illegal immigrants are already restricted and not in this health care legislation," Green said. "We need health care reform, and we need to focus on creating the best policy for our country and giving our constituents access to their members. Congressman Cantor and his caucus should join us in our efforts to cover the 47 million uninsured instead of politicizing an issue that has already been dealt with to create panic.”
wonder how tight is tail is between his legs as he runs.
Papers please, papers....
How about a birth certificate?
“isn’t it amazing the same jerks that will demand a photo ID to attend a meeting will oppose a photo ID to prove eligiblity to vote.”
Hahahahah...I hope this doesn’t demoralize you, but I went to type the same thing and scrolled down to the bottom and saw your note...had the same thought in almost the exact same words, except I had something else in mind than idiots...yours is more suited to publication, though...
Leftists are nothing but inconsistent.
Union cards will do, I’m sure.
He would ask for you voting card, but it would show how mant times some of them voted in the same day, and that would look bad to have this show up at this time.
If you are voting on a bill that involves ALL 50 states , then any American citizen should be able to express their views at your meeting no matter where they reside.
:)
Democrats motto: “IDs are only necessary if it helps us get our way”
Hey, I’m an undocumented voter! This is discrimination to those of us who come to Texas for jobs, ‘cause we don’t have the freedom and opportunities back home!!!
How DARE we discriminate against undocumented voters!
Guess they won’t be bussing in SEIU, ACORN or other thugs from outside his district.
The cowardly Congressman. So how many SEIU hacks, living outside your district, will be there??
VOTE. THE. BASTARDS. OUT.
It was reported on other threads that Green repeatedly voted against a photo ID requirement for voting.
The hypocrisy, it burns.
These people are sicko’s!Tell him to site a law!
How is he going to pack his meeting with illegal alien supporters?
We need to call it prospective Election Station and then the requirement for the photo ID will be immediately dumped in a Pavlovian response...
“...he will require attendees to show photo identification to get into his town halls to prove that they’re his constituents.”
His constituents can thank liberals like Kathleen Hall, who bring their children as puppets to other states’ town hall meetings.
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