How did Congressman Dennis Moore not know about “the letter” before today?

Congressman Dennis Moore

Congressman Dennis Moore has been avoiding “Town Hall” meetings with constituents for months, especially since the first protest rally at his office in February after the huge 787 billion stimulus bill was passed by Congress with little debate and plenty of “pork.”

With many wanting to hear from him on a variety of issues, last week Moore appeared on KMBZ radio for only 20 minutes at 6:40 AM.  About an hour later he  was greeted by a small group of protesters as he attended a meeting at JCCC explaining to government contractors how to do business with the government.  Some in that group had requested meetings with Moore and seemed to be ignored.  Meanwhile the group Organizing for America was scheduling meetings at Moore’s office too, in an E-mail similar to those sent from the White House that no one asked for.

Today Moore appeared on the radio for an hour with Congressman Emanuel Cleaver from Missouri, and the Kansas City Star’s Steve Kraske’s on the KCUR “Up to Date” program (listen here).  Cleaver talked about signing “the letter” while Moore said he had just heard about it.

Press reports in the last few days talked about a letter signed by 60 members in the House that any health care reform must include a “public plan”.  From Bloomberg:

The Democratic lawmakers also attached a July 30 letter from 60 party members to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that said any legislation that didn’t contain a government plan was “unacceptable.”Congressman Cleaver spoke first and gave weak economic arguments to support the “public option.”

Congressman Cleaver said he had signed “the letter” as a member of the Progressive Caucus but Congressman Moore as a member of the Blue Dog coalition admitted had had not. Cleaver:

“Without a public plan, there is little reason that we can believe we can lower insurance premiums.”

“Health care reform is not about the insurance companies, it’s about the people. ,,, The market does not work.”

Cleaver failed to discuss how the free market is not at work in the system we have now, and that causes higher prices and lack of competition. Cleaver blamed the insurance companies for ever higher costs, but did not discuss regulations that now prohibit competition across state lines. Cleaver seemed indifferent to real-world, free-market economic arguments.

Cleaver did not mention the problems in funding Medicare or Social Security, and how adding new health care entitlements would be paid for. How can the government afford more, when it cannot afford what we have mandated now?

Kraske then addressed Congressman Moore:

“You also favor the public health care option, because why?”

Moore echoed many of the same reasons as Congressman Cleaver. Moore explained he was a Blue Dog coalition member.  Moore:

I was one of three [from the Blue Dogs], I believe, who did not sign the letter. … I want to have a public option, and I think we need a public option.

Kraske:

You’re saying basically that you can’t get the cost down where they need to be. You can’t cover everybody, unless you have this public option ingredient in the overall bill.

Moore: That’s my thinking right now …

Kraske: Why didn’t you sign the letter?

Moore: I didn’t even know about the letter until this morning, number one. I haven’t looked at the letter yet. You showed it to me this morning when I walked in.

Kraske: Yeah, right.

Moore: But, the important thing is I do think it should be considered…

How could Moore have not known about the letter before Kraske showed it to him today, but also have known that he was one of three that did not sign the letter when the letter was signed in late July? Did Kraske tell him that too?

Moore has been hiding from his constituents recently claiming he had received death threats.  But Moore said he turned over both cases to the local police.

If the threat at public forums is so severe, why is Congressman Todd Tiahrt having a public forum in Overland Park on Saturday Aug 22 to discuss health care?

If the threat at town hall meetings is so severe, why is Senator Clair McCaskill having a town hall meeting at UMKC on Monday, Aug 24?

If the threat is so severe, why did Congressman Jerry Moran have a town hall meeting in Overland Park in June?

Is Congressman Moore really hiding from his constituents because of

• his vote for stimulus funding after little public discussion?
• his vote for “Cap and Trade” after little public discussion?
• his likely vote on health care reform after little public discussion?

• Dennis Moore’s constituents ‘greet’ him at JCCC today trying to have their voices heard, Kansas Meadowlark, Aug 11, 2009.
• Organizing for America sending invites Congressman Moore won’t, Kansas Meadowlark, Aug 9, 2009.
• Government Health Care Protest at Congressman Dennis Moore’s Office, Kansas Meadowlark, July 18, 2009.

Tags: Congressman Dennis Moore, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, Health Care Reform, KCUR, Steve Kraske