Tipton, MI- Congressman Mark Schauer is holding a town hall meeting in Battle Creek this afternoon to discuss his recent vote in favor of the Obama-Pelosi trillion dollar health care bill.  Mark Schauer holding a health care town hall meeting after the health care vote sounds like an April Fools’ Day prank on his constituents, but meeting with constituents after he votes on critical legislation is a pattern for the Congressman.

Last year, as noted and criticized by the Jackson Citizen Patriot and Daily Telegram Editorial boards, Congressman Schauer refused to hold unscreened public town hall meetings prior to his vote on November 7, 2009 in favor of the Obama-Pelosi health care bill.  This week, Congressman Schauer is repeating his pattern by holding town hall meetings after his March 21^st vote in favor of the final Obama-Pelosi health care bill.

“Mark Schauer’s votes for trillion dollar deficits and a trillion dollar government takeover of health care are harming Michigan families.  He should at least have the decency to listen to his constituents before he votes in favor of health care legislation that will cost trillions, raise taxes, and reduce access to care for seniors,” said Republican Congressional Candidate Tim Walberg.

“I held town hall meetings when I had the privilege to serve the citizens of south central Michigan and I will be holding more to discuss the need to repeal the Obama-Pelosi health care bill and replace with common-sense, patient-centered reforms.  Ending lawsuit abuse, allowing the sale of health insurance across state lines, letting small businesses join together to purchase insurance for their employees and giving people the same tax benefits as corporations when purchasing health insurance are all steps I support to make health care more affordable,” added Walberg.

Background:

Jackson Citizen Patriot November 18, 2009 Editorial:

“Fresh from his historic vote for a health-care overhaul, U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer stormed through his congressional district last week to seek public input. Unfortunately, it was after the fact.”

Jackson Citizen Patriot August 16, 2009 Editorial:

“As distressing at it has been to see Americans brawling over national health care, this debate must occur. It would be wrong to throttle it. And yes, Congressman Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, is wrong to avoid it.  It is a time for members of Congress to face the kinds of angry taxpayers that many local officials encounter in property-tax appeals or school board hearings on privatization.”

The Daily Telegram August 12, 2009 Editorial:

“President Barack Obama hosted a town hall meeting Tuesday night. U.S. Rep. John Dingell, who hosted some of the loudest meetings, said he was glad he had scheduled a pair. It is disappointing that U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer has chosen not to hold town hall meetings during his recess here in Michigan’s 7th District. At similar town hall meetings in August of 2007, former U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg answered criticism for not supporting an immediate pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq.”

As we are all aware, this time as in others,  the press was on to get the legislation passed before the break.

I guess it worked.

Speakers Jack McHugh- Michigan Votes website and Mackinac Center for Public Policy : Stacey Mathia – Independent candidate for Governor, Scott Hagerstrom-state director, Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFP) and Rick Jarosz, Downriver Republicans Grassroots Organization  ”The Second Amendment” (Gun rights)

How do we fix our broken government and reclaim the future for our children? Come to a TEA party town hall on March 8, 2010. Our speakers- Rick, Stacey, Jack and Scott- will be sharing their thoughts and views on what’s broken, and what we can all do to fix the problems. . Emphasizing current concerns, the meeting is entitled, “Bread, Beans and Bullets since it will address Jobs, Taxes and Gun Control.

It is no secret that Michigan is seeing the worst unemployment and in the biggest crisis since the Great Depression. Our auto manufacturers pushed into bankruptcy while Wall Street rewarded. Washington politicians have done a terrible job. Health care has had a big debate, but other issues affect us- such as gun restriction, loss of jobs that pay, or increasing taxes and debt. . These topics will be discussed at a Town hall meeting, sponsored by the Patriots of Southeast Michigan.

Jack McHugh is a senior legal analyst of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. The Center’s mission is to ““improve the quality of life for all Michigan citizens by promoting sound solutions to state and local policy questions”. He also is the editor for Michigan Votes, the website that provides the activities of the Michigan Legislature. He has published essays on public policy in all major Michigan newspapers

Scott Hagerstrom is the state director of Americans for Prosperity Foundation. He will endorse the return of Federal government to its Constitutional mandates. AFP is opposed to health care reform, cap and trade (to limit global warming) .Fresh from speaking at the TEA Party convention, Scott will instruct on how to bring Congress back to fiscal responsibility.

Stacey Mathia will discuss returning common sense and conservative principles to Michigan government. She states, “I look forward to speaking with all of Michigan about returning us to prosperity.  I look forward to returning our state to a climate that rewards entrepreneurship, not punishes it.” She will share about improving the outlook for business in Michigan.

Rick Jarosz is vice director of The Downriver Republican Grassroots Organization(DRGO) He will speak on the Second Amendment as it relates to gun ownership and little known proposals by the Obama administration to restrict gun ownership. Their stated mission is “to create a resource that informs, demonstrates and persuades through objective presentation, debate and discussion, the benefits of limited government, individual liberty and individual responsibility.” This stance is echoed by all of our speakers.

The town hall will be held Monday, March 8, 2010, at the AMVET Hall, 1217 Merriman Rd, Westland, MI at 7 pm. For more information contact: Ralph Glugla  or visit our website: Patriots of Southeast Michigan: www.patriotsofsoutheastmichigan.org

Please contact family/friends who are united against a federal takeover of your healthcare options/rights. Please forward this information to your lists, too.

Arrival time:  5 PM, or even before if possible— please come when you are available.

Signage will not be permitted inside the auditorium.  Those who are turned away because of lack of room will be encouraged to join us for a protest rally outside with your signs in the parking lot against the unconstitutional Obama-Pelosi-Democrat healthcare takeover.  Brings signs & leave in car in case you cannot enter the townhall so that your voice can be heard outside at the massive protest being planned.

Of course, A phone call from a local news outlet to one of the guest speakers, Ken Braun from the Mackinac Center just prior to the start of the Traverse City “Your Voice” Town Hall confirmed that because there would be no “politician” at the event, there would also be no news coverage for the event which had the most important speakers of all… The citizens.

The local TV station I suppose, has its priorities, a knitting party for cat wear will trump a real grass roots event EVERY TIME. In all fairness, the TV Stations have had to cut their budgets just like the many citizens, and driving to an event such as this may use some of the generator fuel they have left.  Budgets are a funny thing..  Apparently government is the only entity that doesn’t have to consider coloring its budgets inside the lines. But I digress..

It wasn’t the absence of the news that was troubling, but rather the absence of our elected officials which was the reasoning for the news to ignore the 200 person crowd. While the recess continues, there are few opportunities for the elected representation to come together with the people they purport to represent. This was one of those opportunities. And though we had even confirmed a “subordinate” from our local congressman Dave Camp’s office, it was two days before the event, he decided to find “better things to do.”

This is a partial shot of the folks who turned out Aug 13, at 7pm for the Traverse City Town Hall Event In this photo, Ray Pleva, one of the guest speakers discusses some of the nutraceutical  products he is currently working on.

Ray Pleva Speaking on the benefits of his nutraceutical cherry products

The media is missing the point with the disagreements in town halls.  These people are hardly tools of any special interest, as they are merely confused as to why our government is trying to push forward a health care plan that is rife with untenable language and consequence. Maybe the news folks hope to find contentious behavior only, and with a politician handy to yell at, it certainly could happen.  And maybe THAT sells advertising.

But the fact that there is not a Stabenow, Levin, Camp, or Stupak (though Traverse city outside his district) present where such things are being discussed should not go un-noticed. Even given the short notice of the event, it would have been enough for any of them to have their own events in our region or somewhere that the constituents could have reached them. I suppose however, that if they had such events planned on their own, it would follow a protocol such as this:

No shouting. Congressional representatives cannot sell Obamacare with mobs of unruly senior citizens and small business owners interrupting to press them on specific sections of the bill. Limit your objections to a library whisper (30dB or less) and only challenge your lawmakers with hushed, dulcet tones. Otherwise, you will scare them and they will be forced to hide behind teleconference calls, sick children at hospitals, or union bosses.

Yeah.. that’s the ticket.

But you know what?  We got things done.  People learned things.  We conversed. A couple of Doctors spoke, and even Madonna’s Dad weighed in let us all know he wanted government to back off. And now, more letters are being written today, yet our representatives are sleeping it off still at the resort of their choice during their “well earned vacations”

Whatever.

As an aside..  This “Your Voice” Town hall format was new and untried.  It was HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL, and I would encourage those who wish to put on their own to contact me for the format design, which allows for REAL conversation with your neighbors. Also, I will be working over the weekend to put together the video we have, and will have an audio track available that spans the entire Town Hall ready hopefully later today. – J

NON-POLITICAL.

Enter off 11th Street.  Arrive early enough and have an opportunity for your input.

(not party affiliated)

Thursday August 13, 2009  7 PM

St. Francis High School Gym – Entrance off of 11th Street Traverse City.

If you wish to say something, arrive early and sign in.

This is your chance to let our representatives hear your voice!