More than 3,500 constituents join Congresswoman on District 30 call

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson held a telephone townhall for constituents of the 30th Congressional District of Texas tonight.  More than 3,500 constituents participated in the telephone townhall, which took place from 7:10 PM to 8:10 PM CST, and constituents were able to participate simply by picking up their phones when they rang.  During the call, Congresswoman Johnson discussed both national issues and issues specific to District 30.

A number of call participants were concerned about the high cost of health care.  Congresswoman Johnson discussed her support of universal health care coverage.

“We are working now on a health care plan in the House,” Congresswoman Johnson said.  “I support accessible, affordable health care coverage for everyone.  Right now, health care coverage is expensive, and we are trying to get a handle on that cost.

“If you have health insurance you like, I want you to be able to keep it,” she continued.  “If you don’t have coverage, I want you to be able to get it.”

Congresswoman Johnson answered several questions about education, clarifying that many education issues are decided at the state and local level.

“All of us are concerned about the quality of education in our country,” Congresswoman Johnson said.  “We need to provide more resources to prepare teachers, and we need smaller classrooms so that students are engaged.  We also need to direct more students to the science, math and engineering fields, because so many jobs of the future are there.”

Congresswoman Johnson also responded to a constituent’s question about the practices of credit card companies.

“We are very aware of the abuse that some credit cardholders experience, and we passed legislation last week on credit card reform,” she said, referring to H.R. 627, the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights.  "Naturally, the credit card companies didn’t like it.  The legislation is in the Senate, and I hope we can get it out of the Senate and signed into law.”

Finally, the Congresswoman discussed the economic crisis and the burdens everyday Americans are facing.

“We are sensitive to the middle class carrying the largest burden over the past eight years,” she said.

Congresswoman Johnson stressed throughout the call that constituents who need help with specific problems should contact a caseworker at her Dallas office by calling (214) 922-8885.

###

U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.