Baron Hill Folds Like A Lawn Chair, Will Hold Town Halls

Baron Hill Folds Like A Lawn Chair, Will Hold Town Halls

Tired of Running From Constituents, Hill Will Listen to “Political Terrorists”

Washington- Baron Hill has had a rough summer. After voting yes for government-run healthcare in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Hill, a “conservative” blue dog Dem came home to angry Hoosiers’ demanding to know why he voted for a bill that would kill jobs, eliminate options, and could prove detrimental to Medicare. Constituents spent weeks writing, phoning, and demanding answers from Baron Hill and he has finally decided to come out of hiding to hold two town halls and listen to the constituents he once deemed “political terrorists”:

“I’m trying to control the event,” Hill said, shortly before an informal discussion with a dozen business people at the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. “What I don’t want to do is create an opportunity for the people who are political terrorists to blow up the meeting and not try to answer thoughtful questions.” (Peter Slevin, “Key Democrat Feels the Heat After Voting for House Plan,” Washington Post, 8/10/2009)

“Baron Hill’s inability to stand up to his party bosses is as transparent as it is pathetic,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain.  “Having already voted for his party’s government-run healthcare plan, Hill has spent the last month attacking Hoosiers and avoiding face to face meetings with his constituents at all costs.  Unfortunately for Hill, Indiana families see Hill’s town hall for what it is – a PR gimmick from a Washington politician who knows his career is in jeopardy.”

After weeks of lobbying efforts, Hill folds to his constituent’s demands:

“People who’ve been waiting for a chance to talk to U.S. Rep. Baron Hill about health care have at least two opportunities next week–at events Monday in New Albany and Wednesday in Bloomington.

Entry to the public forums — Hill’s first since the health care debate heated up in Congress — will be on a first-come, first-served basis, and the total number of participants will be determined by ‘fire code capacity,’ according to announcements by Hill’s office.” (Lesley Stedman Weidenbener, “Hill to hold public forums next week,” Courier-Journal, 8/26/2009)

Hopefully for Hoosiers sake, Baron Hill will finally give them the answers they have been looking for.

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