Congressmen Avoiding Town Hall Meetings

As Tennessee's Congress members return to the state, they are trying to answer questions about health care legislation while avoiding the raucous confrontations that have turned town hall meetings into shouting matches.

Rep. Jim Cooper, a Democrat, squashed rumors that he was holding a town hall meeting this week and has canceled an event at a Nashville middle school out of fear that protesters would show up, The Tennessean reported.

Cooper was invited to welcome students at West End Middle School for the first day of school, he told the Tennessean, but somehow the rumor spread that he would be discussing health care reform legislation. Concerned that the school day would be disrupted, Cooper canceled the appearance.

Cooper said he has no public meetings scheduled during the congressional recess.

"I've always been accessible," he said. "I'm open to meet with anybody who requests a meeting. When I represented a rural area, you had to scare up a crowd. I had over a thousand town halls there. But in an urban area, so many groups want to meet it's hard to keep up with the invitations. I welcome that."

Democratic Rep. Bart Gordon initially told the Daily News Journal he would only hold teleconference calls during the recess, but then announced that he will have two moderated town hall meetings in Murfreesboro and Gallatin.

"This is an unprecedented moment as far as people wanting to discuss issues. I think it is very healthy when you have people want to come out to town hall meetings," said Kent Syler, chief of staff for the congressman that represents the 6th district.

The meetings will be moderated by the Murfreesboro newspaper and the Star News-Examiner in Gallatin.

A Jackson radio talk show host is calling on Democratic Rep. John Tanner to hold a public forum in Union City.

Mike Slater, who has a morning talk show on station WTJS, has a rally scheduled Thursday that he says is a public call for the congressman to meet with his constituents. Tanner has a public meeting scheduled in Dickson about 90 miles away, along with two teleconferences scheduled in late August.

"Telephone town hall meetings just don't count," Slater told The Union City Daily Messenger. "At Thursday's meeting, we will have mikes so everyone can state the questions they want to ask their representative." Slater was also involved in a local anti-tax "tea party" earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Republican Sen. Bob Corker has plans to visit 28 counties and hold 18 public forums throughout the month. Stopping in Memphis and Shelby County on Tuesday, Corker stressed his opinion that health care reform is being botched under the Obama administration.

While most who have attended Corker's meetings have been supportive of his views on the legislation, Corker met Tuesday with about 20 people who want health care reform outside a Memphis Rotary Club luncheon.

Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat from Memphis, has had a harder time during his public appearances, including one on Saturday that attracted hundreds to loudly voice their concerns about the legislation.

During another meeting Tuesday with a much smaller crowd, Cohen praised the health care bill and said opponents were spreading lies about it.

At one point, Cohen got upset when a man interrupted him and said sharply, "Sir, I have the floor! This is not Saturday night," The Commercial Appeal reported. He later apologized.