For Immediate Release: August 13, 2009
Contact: Randy Shelton 817-243-5655

Chet Edwards says he wants to hear from his constituents

Concerned Constituents and TEA Party leaders across District 17 will hold 3 Simultaneous Rallies at all distict offices at noon.

WACO, Bryan, and Cleburne, Tex. – Concerned citizens are making it very easy for Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Tex., to keep his promise to meet with constituents regarding the health care reform bill. Friday, “town meeting” style rallies will take place at all three of Edwards’ district office locations in Cleburne, Bryan, and Waco. Simultaneous news conferences will be held at noon to discuss HR 3200, the so-called “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009.”

“Americans are facing an unprecedented event in our history,” said Randy Shelton organizer of the Granbury Tea Party. “Never before has the private industry that has made America so great been so threatened by a growing government. No where has a government take-over of a private industry worked out well for the private sector. Nowherehas it been successful.”

Edwards has told KBTX-TV in Bryan that he “will not vote for any bill that sets up a nationally socialized plan like Canadian health care, a one-size-fits-all. That won’t work in America, I won’t support it, and I don’t think it’ll pass Congress.”

But Shelton said such a pledge is meaningless, since Congress isn’t considering moving directly to a Canadian-style system.

“What we’re concerned about is whether Rep. Edwards will open the door to socialized medicine by supporting Nancy Pelosi’s government-funded ‘public option’ that will drive private insurers out of business,” he said.

Edwards also promised on KBTX-TV to meet with constituents during Congress’s August recess: “I want to review the bill carefully, including changes that have been made recently in it,” Edwards said. “I’ll be meeting with people throughout our district, including doctors, nurses, community leaders, businesses and everyday citizens over the next three to four weeks and get their viewpoint on that.”

Organizers of the three simultaneous rallies say that Edwards is reneging on his pledge by announcing that his only Town Hall meetings during August will be by telephone conference calls in which the congressman controls who gets to ask a question.

“We want to have a face-to-face discussion with Rep. Edwards,” Shelton said, “and Friday we are inviting Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and Tea Party folks to come meet at noon at one of his local offices and hopefully, hear from our congressman there.”

“We will continue to pressure Edwards to speak with us directly and truthfully and encourage him to vote against government-controlled healthcare.” Shelton said.

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