Shimkus, Durbin Eschew Town Hall Meetings on Health Care Reform

By Kevin Robinson in News on Aug 13, 2009 5:40PM

While the national news has been chock-full of stories of angry anti-health care reform activists storming town hall meetings with congressmen, the local news won't be carrying any of those stories soon, at least not starring U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and 19th District Congressman John Shimkus. “I won’t be doing sucker-punch town hall meetings,” Democrat and Senate Majority Whip Durbin said. “They can do all the political theater they want, but I don’t have to supply the stage for them.”

Durbin spokeswoman Christina Angarola said that the senator has held and will continue to hold meetings with constituents to get their feedback on the health care reform proposals. “When it comes to meetings with constituents in the state, he has long preferred smaller settings that allow for in-depth conversations. The events we’ve held thus far fit that mold,” Angarola said.

On the other side of the aisle, Shimkus spokesman Steve Tomaszewski said that the congressman regularly holds office hours to meet with constituents one-on-one to discuss the issues. “Hopefully, his responses help explain his positions and reflect that of the majority of his constituents,” Tomaszewski said.