http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/08/paul-ryan-congress-town-hall
“The think tank No Labels called the offices of all 430 active members of Congress and found that 60 percent of them weren’t scheduling town hall meetings. According to No Labels’ analysis, more Democrats than Republicans are shutting themselves off from their constituents: 68 percent of Dems and 51 percent of Republicans hadn’t planned a town hall during Congress’ weeks-long summer break. (Click here to see if your representative or senator is planning a town hall or not.)
According to the linked list only one House member from Massachusetts is planning a Town Hall in August:
Massachusetts 5 Niki Tsongas D Yes
Massachusetts 1 John Olver D No
Massachusetts 2 Richard Neal D No
Massachusetts 3 Jim McGovern D No
Massachusetts 4 Barney Frank D No
Massachusetts 6 John Tierney D No
Massachusetts 7 Ed Markey D No
Massachusetts 8 Mike Capuano D No
Massachusetts 9 Stephen Lynch D No
Massachusetts 10 William Keating D No
Not to be ignored, angry citizens, at least in one high profile district, have taken action to get some attention. Last week, a handful of unemployed constituents organized a sit-in in GOP Rep. Paul Ryan’s office in Kenosha, Wisconsin, while 100 protesters picketed outside. Ryan in particular has drawn heaps of criticism for his plan to eliminate Medicare as we know it and refashion Medicaid into a state-based block grant program. In the end, Ryan’s staff had police remove the protesters from the office, which was done peacefully.
Paul Ryan has made himself available during the recess—but for a price. That’s right: Ryan and other lawmakers are now charging constituents to attend public events and ask them questions. Ryan wanted $15 a head. Rep. Dan Quayle (R-Ariz.), Politico reported, is charging $35 from attendees who want to ask him questions over a catered lunch at a Phoenix law firm. Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-Minn.) also wants money—$10 a person—to attend an his event, which is hosted by the National Federation of Independent Businesses.”
