double think/double speak at it's finest...
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.”
Isn’t it amazing that Lobbyist that live in other states or even other countries can get face time with the congressman as long as they bring with them a FAT CHECK.....
No ID to vote but you need an ID to talk to Congress.
I'm not surprised the congressman have who have town hall meetings not done that already.
As long as they are consistent and ONLY allow constituents in who live in his district, I have no real problem with him doing it.
Knowing that people DIRECTLY responsible to throw his ass out will be there, maybe he might listen and get a clue.
Don't kid yourself. The meeting will be pre-packed with an SEIU choir before they open the doors for "little people."
And then insist that he support legislation that requires ID for voting.
I'm just a big believer in "representative government"
I'm sure in the vast majority of these town hall meetings the congressman believe the angry and frustration being vented are by people who don't vote for them so it is easy to ignore them and vote as they see fit.
By allowing allow people from his district, the one who actually get to speak at least will be heard loud and clear. Maybe a few will be real Americans
What about Katrina trash “evacuated” to his district? They were allowed to vote in the NOLA elections.
Funny thing is that he doesn’t want his constuent voices dilluted by outsiders but doesn’t have a problem with it when it comes to elections.
Wonder how he would feel if outsiders voted his sorry butt out?
double think/double speak at it's finest...
There's nothing -- zippo, nada -- in the House bill, as posted online, that restricts health care to legal residents of the United States.
And a sign that states "Here's my Birth Certificate - Where's Obama's?"
Horseshit!
I came here to say exactly that!
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