On the recordMarch 16, 2010
This year I replaced town hall meetings in my district with listening sessions. I go to hear what my constituents have to teach me and to teach this body. They want us to know that the process matters to them. Some of my colleagues like to say that it doesn't make any difference, but my constituents know that when legislation is negotiated in the backroom, that America loses. They know that in the back rooms, stimulus bills turn into pork bills, bailout bills turn into just more debt, and energy bills turn into taxes. Today, hundreds of Americans are walking the halls of this building, asking us to stop this outrageous government takeover of health care and take health reform step by step and structure a system that lets them out of this broken system, not locks them into it permanently. I hear them, Madam Speaker, and I certainly hope that this Chamber hears them.
