Last Updated: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 3:10 PM CDT
Feingold visits Forest County
by Melissa Theisen - Forest Republican Editor - mtheisen@forestrepublican.com
U.S. Senator Russ Feingold received a warm reception from the majority of residents when he visited Laona last Tuesday morning for his 1,055th listening session since 1993 and 47th of this year. Many of those in attendance commended Feingold for the work he has been doing on behalf of Wisconsin residents and the United States during his time in office. Even staunch Republicans admitted that Feingold seemed to have his eye on the ball.
However, Feingold admitted that his trip to Vilas County earlier that morning had not gone quite as pleasantly, stating that there were several in attendance that were not quite so supportive of what he and other Wisconsin representatives were doing.
Regardless of the reaction Feingold receives as he travels around the state, he claims that the listening sessions are beneficial.
“(Listening sessions) are a great way to have a conversation with people of the state,” he said.
Feingold started the listening session by discussing two censure resolutions he recently introduced to the President, Vice President and other administrative officials for misconduct relating to the war in Iraq and abuses on the rule of law.
“At my town hall meetings, on-line and everywhere I go, I hear the American people demanding that the President and his administration be held accountable for their misconduct, both with regard to the disastrous war in Iraq and their flagrant abuse of the rule of law,” he said.
Feingold then talked with numerous Forest County residents and summer residents to the area about their concerns.
Topics ranged from social security to taxable land in Forest County to the polarization between Republicans and Democrats in Congress.
Jason Maloney, Director of Blackwell Job Corps, was one in attendance with a concern he wanted to discuss with the Senator. He raised his concern that several other Job Corps centers were being closed down and many others were in danger of closing. According to Maloney, Blackwell's center faces the threat of closure because it is being reported that not enough scholarship recipients are at Blackwell. However, Maloney said, no one at the Blackwell Center has any control over who receives scholarships.
After listening to Maloney's concern, Feingold expressed his support of the Blackwell Job Corps Center and reassured him that he would look into the problem.
“I'm a fan of what you do here,” Feingold said. “I think it has real value.”
Several in attendance also raised their concerns about the leisurely pace government organizations seem to have when it comes to social security, disability and health care problems. In response, Feingold told his audience that they should contact their Senators when they come across these types of problems.
“Veteran's health should be an entitlement,” stated Feingold. “When it comes to delays, you are right to contact your Senator because we can give them (government organizations) a little push.”
Even when he was in a situation where he did not agree with a person's stance on an issue, Feingold said he would be “keeping an open mind” and admits that in some cases he has been persuaded to change his mind.
When it comes to the upcoming presidential election, Feingold says that he will go into the next administration with a “good attitude.”
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