Best way to communicate

When I was fortunate enough to be elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004, I made a pledge to hold town hall meetings in all 64 parishes every Congress. And since then, I’ve done just that. In fact, since I was first elected I’ve held more than 260 town hall meetings.

On Friday, I wrapped up my 64-parish tour in Franklin Parish.

I believe the best way to communicate with fellow Louisianans is face to face, right in their communities. Getting an up close and personal view of what’s going on in each parish and hearing directly from the people who live there helps me do the job I was elected to do – represent them in Washington.

Due to the presidential election Congress has not been in session during the month of October, but instead of taking a break, I find this is the best time to visit with Louisianans in all corners of the state.

During my most recent meetings we discussed issues like my efforts to bring Louisiana common sense to Washington, reform the culture of runaway federal spending and debt, and develop positive solutions to get our economy going again.

Louisianans are always impressively up to speed on current events, like the attacks in Benghazi or what kind of policies will come out of Washington during the so called ‘lame duck’ session after the election but before the next Congress starts in January 2013.

Congress will have to have votes on our tax policy – which affects each and every one of us – during the lame duck, and I assured folks that I’m fighting against any middle class tax increase.

Washington’s wasteful spending was also a hot topic at nearly every meeting. And while the President has talked tough about seriously tackling our ballooning debt, his actions have moved us in the opposite direction. I’m ready to work together with any president on any good faith proposal to change that disastrous course.

At the town hall meetings, we often agree on the issues, but occasionally we don’t. Either way, it’s valuable for me to hear your views to never lose touch with what’s most pressing on the minds of Louisianans. If only more of my colleagues around the country would do the same thing more often, Washington might not be so out of touch.

Please contact me on these or any other federal matters at any of my state offices or in my Washington office by mail at U.S. Sen. David Vitter, U.S. Senate, 516 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510, or by phone at (202) 224-4623. You can also reach me on the Web at http://vitter.senate.gov.