Your Opinion: Town hall meeting requested of area Congress members

Dear Editor:

From Feb. 20 to Feb. 24, Sen. Claire McCaskill and Sen. Roy Blunt, and U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer will be able to spend some time back home in Missouri. It is District Work Week, and Members of Congress are given an opportunity to touch bases with their constituents. This is a great opportunity for them and for us.

I have contacted all three offices to request that each of them hold a town hall meeting in the mid Missouri area to discuss the issues of health care, climate change, immigration policy and more. There are members of the newly formed Jefferson City Indivisible group who share these concerns. There are many voters who would appreciate an opportunity to listen and to speak to our elected officials. Staff in each of their offices were unable to offer any meaningful suggestions on ways to accomplish this.

Sending an email, post card or leaving a phone message are one-sided conversations. There are important policies being voted on by them. Voters back home have questions that deserve answers. Failure to engage in dialogue is alarming and disturbing. It is not politically smart.

Issue-oriented letters to [email protected] are welcome. All letters should be limited to 400 words in length; longer letters may be edited to conform to the specified length. The author's name must appear with the letter, and the name, address and phone number provided for verification. Letters that cannot be verified by telephone will not be published.