Pegged Right by Peg Zaemisch

Baldwin marks one decade of: One foot in Wisconsin and the other in Washington D.C.

Three rows of folding chairs are arranged in a semi circle in the lower level meeting room of the Sauk Library. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin sits alone at the head table and after checking her watch, deems it time to begin this listening session with her 2nd District constituents. It’s not really like a firing squad, but one cannot help but wonder, if Tammy ever wishes for a flak jacket.

Some of the attendants to this session lean forward, clenching their notes in their hands and wait for their chance to ask her their prickly questions. The congresswoman seems entirely approachable. She reminds you of someone you might have gone to high school or to college with. Maybe someone who taught your kids or lived down the street.

Tall and slender, she is calm, reserved and full of grace. The questions begin and it is obvious there will be no softballs tossed during this session.

A 74-year old retired minister stands up and begins his statements bristling at the $4-plus per gallon that is hitting his senior friends hard.

“We need someone to give them hell, Tammy!” he shouts. “We need another Harry Truman, someone who won’t be afraid to offend and can get in there and start swinging.”

Before a response can be made, the minister is off questioning the teaching of evolution in the public schools and the violation of canon law that he says it represents. He further presses for an answer on the health care and the high costs of prescriptions and high property taxes.

His arms are waving now and he is getting a bit red in the face. Baldwin shuffles her notes, takes a deep breath and smiles at the man. Other attendants are whispering for him to sit down and give others a chance to talk.

So which statement does she address? Aggressive political tactics? Evolution? Health care or high property taxes?

She picks the first and begins to tell the man in no uncertain terms that she has been railing and pressing and working hard to turn the tide on the cost of fuel, just like her colleagues have, but the current administration is making it tough.

“I can say that we are well positioned to make some remarkable changes as soon as we have a change in the White House,” she noted. Baldwin said the windfall profits for the oil companies are nothing short of criminal and have got to be reigned in. She also promised there would be new dollars for research for alternative fuels.

When the man jumped up again, an elderly woman next to him tugged on his jacket and reminded him that he’d had his turn. He apologized and sat down.

Then in a loud, but quavering voice, the woman asked when Baldwin thought troops would be coming home. She said she has a grandson over there and she won’t be able to sleep until he’s home safe. He has already had his term extended once, and that the whole family worries day and night about his safety.

“Especially his three little boys,” she concluded.

Baldwin said she voted against the war and against requests to have the war spending increased.

“I feel now that what we need to do is to make sure that these men and women who are coming back have first rate health care – not like the intolerable conditions at Walter Reed. I believe the benefits for veterans have been shamefully under- funded in the past and we need to start putting these brave Americans first. We need a renewed GI bill for both Afghanistan and Iraqi veterans, so they can go to college or get the technical training they need.”

Baldwin said she hopes the troop withdrawal and federal benefit packages will fall into line after the election of a new president.

This comment drew the only applause of the afternoon. Three men spoke on local issues, including a proposed “Rails to Trails” project plans that seemed to be malingering in halls of the Department of Transportation.

Tammy said she is a bicyclist and has worked with others to win millions of dollars for trail projects.

“I am on your side,” she said. While she acknowledged that all budget dollars are tight, especially the DOT’s, either she or her staff, would check into where the project got washed up along the shoals and would at least let the supporters know.

“The rail lines have been idle for 11 years,” one trail supporter reminded her. “We are losing important tourism dollars every year.”

A local hospital administrator implored the congresswoman to support a change in the classifications of hospitals, because rural hospitals never receive an equal share per patient that urban hospitals do.

She was roundly commended for her work with elderly veterans. She’s always had a soft spot for vets, awarding medals from their war careers that were never given to them until now - years and years later.

However, the conversation quickly comes back to health care and Baldwin says that she has heard so many “health care horror” stories that she can’t believe the experiences related to her, were those of the American people.

“We can do a better job of helping to provide health care,” she said. “There should not be Americans young or old, who are going without tests, medication and treatment because they do not have insurance. It is not right.”

As universal health care plans are being brought forth from both sides of the aisle, she said the ideas are beginning to mingle and she hopes that a less partisan approach will guide both houses to author a bill that will provide health coverage for those uninsured and boost coverage for those who are underinsured – again with a change of administration.

The room began getting warm and most questions have been answered. The last query came from an elderly woman who complained about the pesky phone calls and letters asking her to send a contribution to those working to maintain the stability of social security.

“They can see what I get paid and these callers should know I can’t pay anymore,” she said.

Tammy said the social security system does not ask for contributions. “I believe someone is trying to scam you,” she said. “I’ve never seen these people at my door trying to convince me of anything to do with social security. Save your money.”

The woman smiled, it was if she felt like she got bill collectors off her back.

It was only listening session number one of three for Tammy Baldwin. The next day – three more. She tries to keep in contact with her constituents in south central Wisconsin, probably more than any other legislator.

“I don’t do this to be political, I really want to hear my constituents concerns so I can represent them best,” she added. “I always learn something new.”

Baldwin was elected to Congress in 1998 and she is the first woman to serve in the House of Representatives from Wisconsin. Her election also made history in that as she was the first openly gay person elected to Congress. She was re-elected to serve her 5th term in 2006, she is 37. Her name is on the ballot for a 6th term in November.

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