Why I hold Town Halls

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When my mom was alive, she would sometimes travel with me to public town halls I held across the state.

She sometimes introduced me by saying, “I call this the dog and pony show—I’m the dog, and she’s the pony.”

My mom—never at a loss for something sharp and witty to say—raised me in rural Missouri. And one of the many things she passed on to me was the value of never forgetting where you came from, and the idea that when you’re in public service, to never be afraid to let folks chew on you and tell you what they think.

After all, I represent all Missourians, whether they voted for me or not. And I’m in this for them.

The values my mom taught me have never left me during my time in the Senate. It’s those values that’ve led me to hold public town halls with Missourians—including eight public town halls across Missouri last week.

When I announced these town halls, some colleagues in Washington questioned why I would choose to travel to the rural counties won by the other party in last year’s election—often by a large margin.

For me, it was a no-brainer. I was humbled by the election, and think I owe folks in every corner of Missouri my time and respect, whether they agree with me or not.

I heard from Missourians concerned about the opioid epidemic and about losing their health care, or seeing their costs increase. I talked about my work to combat sex trafficking, and my investigation into the price of prescription drugs.

I talked with military veterans about ensuring they get the benefits they’ve earned, and I talked with kids and teachers about the importance of quality education and affordable college tuition.

I was asked about the Syria missile strike, and about my thoughts on the President’s proposed budget cuts, which would disproportionately punish rural Missouri by slashing drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.

Thousands of Missourians were able to share their thoughts directly, in-person. And more importantly, I was able to hear your thoughts, your concerns, and your ideas. After all, how can I be the best fighter for you in Washington if I don’t listen to what you want me fighting for?

I’m planning more town halls this year that’ll take me to other parts of the state to keep on listening.

Unlike when my mom served on the City Council in Columbia, Missouri, today there are lots of ways for politicians to avoid having public town halls. Facebook, telephone town halls, and other way to connect online have made it easy. And those tools are perfectly fine—the more ways to connect with folks the better.

But there’s no substitute for public, in-person town halls, where any Missourian can show up. There’s no substitute for meeting with Missourians face-to-face, no substitute for giving you the opportunity to tell me publicly how I’m doing, and what you’d like to see me doing differently.

That’s why I’ll keep at it. Because it’s the honor of a lifetime to hear from you and fight for you in the U.S. Senate.

Claire McCaskill was raised in rural Missouri, and is Missouri’s senior U.S. Senator.