This editorial was published by the Idaho Statesman of Boise.
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Four years ago this very week, hundreds of community venues around the country were entertaining politically explosive town hall meetings hosted by members of the U.S. House and Senate. There was an ongoing debate about health care reform, Obama stimulus funding and those pesky czars who were running and ruining the country - without being elected.
There was something very American about these town halls, because they were unrehearsed, unvarnished and live! Congressional electeds had to face constituents - and constituents got an audience before leaders - and isn't this the way things were meant to be?
We wish it were still so.
Of the four members of the Idaho congressional delegation, so far we count only three scheduled town halls during this five-week congressional recess/vacation/district or state work period. All are hosted by Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho: 7 p.m. Wednesday (Aug. 7) in Lewiston; 7 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 8) in Grangeville; and 7 p.m. Wednesday at Meridian City Hall. And even that lineup seems too few and far between for one of Labrador's own constituents who called the Statesman recently.
The Treasure Valley man can't make it to Lewiston or Grangeville, and he'll have to get in line in Meridian to get a chance to be heard by Labrador.
The caller said he has been unsuccessful getting his questions answered and is frustrated with the form letters and lack of opportunity for face-to-face dialogue. "I am not getting representation. I can't communicate. If you are not holding town hall meetings how can you represent the interests of your constituents? This is not acceptable."
We feel the same way. Somehow, hosting tele-town halls - which are better than nothing - and opening up controlled events with friendly question-and-answer sessions has taken the place of taking on all comers at legitimate live town halls.
Staffers of Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, say the senator will be all around the state but, as yet, can't point to a scheduled town hall.
The same is true of Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho: No town halls scheduled.
Many in the delegation point to opportunities to call in to radio stations and other editorial boards, but all these opportunities have a degree of filtering, which falls short of the live town hall.
With several weeks remaining during the most extended time at home in Idaho for the delegation, we hope all the offices will find time in their schedules to meet constituents face to face.
We believe voters in the Treasure Valley and throughout Idaho will quickly fill up the time with important questions about immigration reform, federal spending habits, the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and plenty more.
