Monday, August 17, 2009
The region's representatives in Congress have scheduled a number of listening-tour stops in the area this week. A St. Joseph stop is planned for next week.
Northwest Missouri Rep. Sam Graves and Northeast Kansas Rep. Lynn Jenkins, both Republicans, said the community gatherings will allow constituents to voice their concerns and ask questions about issues in the nation's capital.
These forums have been well-attended around the nation in recent days because of the crush of business - economic stimulus, cap-and-trade legislation, health care reform - on the congressional agenda in 2009.
Mr. Graves, in his fifth term as a U.S. House member, plans Wednesday stops in Jamesport (Farmhouse Collection at 9:45 a.m.), Trenton (North Missouri Logistics at 11:15 a.m.), Princeton (Crossroads at 1 p.m.) and Bethany (Gage Fertilizer and Grain at 2:45 p.m.).
On Thursday, the lawmaker will be in Chillicothe (Boji Stone Coffee House at 3 p.m.) and Hamilton (Penney Mall at 4:30 p.m.).
In the week following, Mr. Graves has Aug. 24 stops on the schedule for Maysville (County Courthouse at 2:15 p.m.) and Savannah (Clasby Community Center at 4 p.m.) He closes out that day with a 5:30 p.m. meeting in Potter Hall on the Missouri Western State University campus in St. Joseph.
On Aug. 27, the congressman will be at the Movie Magic meeting room in Maryville. That gathering begins at 12:45 p.m.
Those planning to attend can call the congressman's St. Joseph office at (816) 233-9818 to R.S.V.P.
Ms. Jenkins, a freshman representative, will hold "Congress to Kansas" sessions on Wednesday in Wetmore (American Legion Building at 11 a.m.), Hiawatha (Fisher Community Center at 1:30 p.m.) and Troy (Pioneer Center at 3 p.m.).
On Sept. 3, she will host meetings in Atchison and Leavenworth.
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Trixie says...
Oh please, the only thing those two want to hear is lockstep agreement with their positions. . . . resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.
August 17, 2009 at 7:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
xanzzz says...
Now Now Trixie this is the time they ACT like they are not puppets and go along with everything their party wants them to so they can fool people into thinking they are good guys that listen to all the people they represent before going back to Washington as empty suits voting how lobbyists for their party tells them to.
August 17, 2009 at 8:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wright_Winger says...
What a sad morning this must be for the single-payer freeloader crowd. But, have heart, you may yet get a government funded, government supervised "co-op" plan to call your own. Why, it could become as successful as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Cheer up, Dr. B. Hussein II will come to your rescue with nurse Kathleen at his side.
August 17, 2009 at 9:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OfCourseWeCan says...
Maybe it's the rainy weather. What would be so evil about allowing individuals who are for example 55+ to opt into medicare? They'd still have to buy supplements from private insurers but would have the security of knowing that if they get sick they won't be dropped.
Why have the wingers suddenly decided that the government of the United States of America cannot do anything right? I thought they considered themselves patriots. I thought they wanted to "conserve" the status quo implying that it is the best possible thing!
August 17, 2009 at 9:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rk92559 says...
Single payer freeloader crowd??? It is idiot statements like that that will keep this country in the dark ages compared to other nations when it comes to Health insurance, and will allow them to just rape at will. And it always comes from someone with paid insurance by their employer that has been told by Rush Limbaugh or whatever assinine radio talk show host that they will lose their insurance. Guess what..your not the only one that pays taxes to support freeloaders. You think your allowed to belong to a group plan but nobody else is unless they work where you do?? Wait...that just described the clowns running this country.
A County or City or State formed group plan that people could PAY for would allow an option for people that aren't among the elite like you that have their insurance paid for so really don't care what it cost. All the above mentioned governments have plans already..THAT WE FREELOADERS PAY FOR!
Trust me..you have never been in business for yourself and have no concept of what it cost to offer employees health insurance or pay your own. Or you wouldn't be ranting about unplugging grandma, or we are going to be like Canada...and on and on.
August 17, 2009 at 11:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wright_Winger says...
Idiot statements?? How 'bout this idiot statement straight from the man:
"The public option, whether we have it or we don't have it, is not the entirety of health care reform," Mr. Obama said. "This is just one sliver of it, one aspect of it."
So you don't get a single-payer insurance scam. At least you may get a co-op. Works good for feed stores and grain elevators, ought to work for health care dontcha think? You betcha!!
How's that Hope and Change looking to you today?
August 17, 2009 at 11:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rk92559 says...
I could give a crap about Obama. I have said before he is all blow and no go. And I think he is leading us to so much debt with his voo doo economics and corporate welfare..we will never recover. ButI am sick and tired of hearing whatever catch phrase the talking heads on whatever news show you listen to spew out. And to compare it to ..grain elevators also shows you know nothing about that either.
You seem to think we are all in good shape lining big health insurance pockets..thats cool. And you think entire shifts of people being laid off in St Joe are freeloaders for not spending half their income on some phony insurance plan that covers only what and who the company wants to, thats your opinion.I have to get my own health insurance so I know what it cost and how ridiculous it has become with no other option. And you call me a freeloader?? Do it to my face and you better have a great dental plan with your Employer provided health insurance plan...you will need it.
August 17, 2009 at 12:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chara says...
i belive i read where the avg. employer pays about $9300 and the worker pays about $3000 a year. seems pretty close if i use my wifes #.
before anyone says laid off workers can get cobra for 18 months, you never tried it. if you did realalty will sink in. just don't belive the folks in washington are looking at all the options. i said it once and i'll say it again nancy pelosi and harry reid do not instill a lot of faith in me. wrong pepole to spearhead this program.
August 17, 2009 at 12:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rk92559 says...
I agree...Pelosi makes my skin crawl. And she broke California and MediCal paying for people like octo mom for new lips, 2,500 a month for one of her illigitmate kids because he is "mildly" autistic.They are writing IOUs to pay their bills. So she can shut her yap. On the other hand. I don't need to see some republican senator that is clearly overweight, and whos head barely fits on the screen saying the uninsured are that way because they choose to be.And after the interview he waddles his ever expanding ass out to lunch paid for by the health insurance lobby without a care in the world..after all..he and his family are well covered from my tax dollars.
August 17, 2009 at 12:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lifelongjoe says...
Missourians for Conservative Values PAC had an interesting article on their website that talks about Graves tour. You can google the website...
August 17, 2009 at 1:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Trixie says...
For those who have never experienced it, here is some info on Cobra.
#1 it is very expensive - there you are with no job trying to pay hundreds of dollars a month with no options. If your employer had a "Cadillac" plan, that is what you must pay for. Trading down is not allowed.
#2 you must take it if you think you might have to buy an individual policy at some time and in today's job market it is far from certain that you fill find a job with full benes - if you skip Cobra you will either be charged a extreme premium or you will be turned down.
August 17, 2009 at 1:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wright_Winger says...
Gosh Trixie, with all those jobs Obama is saving and/or creating, how could anybody possibly be unemployed and without health insurance?
Isn't Hope and Change working for you and yours either?
August 17, 2009 at 1:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Trixie says...
WW - oh honey, I had my career crisis back in 2002. Been living on Hope for Change ever since.
August 17, 2009 at 2:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhoisJohnGalt says...
A couple things come to mind. First, looking at the itinerary, it appears the esteemed lawmakers will have more windshield time than listening time. Unless you want to run along side the bus and holler in the window, I doubt you can have much in the way of discussion with these gents.
Secondly, if the government wants to plunge ahead with this notion of universal healthcare, EVERYONE needs to be paying into it, not just the top 3 percent. Three percent of the population doesn't have enough money to pay for everyone. Those that are going to get this healthcare bonanza need to have some skin in the game too. If that is what they want, then they need to be honest and tax everyone for this, not just a few.
August 17, 2009 at 8:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )