Subject:
738 days and counting . . . will Mark Kirk say "yes" or "no" to announcing town meetings on District 10's website? (See http://illinoispoliticsblog.blogspot.com)
To:
Rep. Mark Kirk
October 26, 2009
"Will Congressman Mark Kirk place public notices of our town meetings on District 10's tax-paid website, a resource Congressionally mandated for district use?"
I know it's hard to believe, Mr. Kirk (and any constituents who may be reading this). I've taken a few minutes, every business day, to call both your Northbrook and D.C. offices, always courteous, always with the same bread-and-butter question.
That's every business day since January 2, 2008, which now extends to 738 calendar days.
Do you remember the starting point of this request? On October 20, 2007 (Winnetka town meeting), you shook my hand and said "Good idea" to my proposal: "Will you put District 10's town meeting notices on District 10's tax-paid website?" Your aide, Richard Goldberg, said "Excellent idea."
Are you managing this well? During 2008 and so far in 2009, Aaron Winters, Deputy Communications Director, has repeatedly stated he is not permitted to reveal if he has ever asked you this question. (Nevertheless, despite what may constitute a restraining order against my inquiry, and as the benchmark of 1,000 phone calls is approached, regretfully this question is being raised to an emergency status.)
Mr. Kirk, it's 738 days and counting. We need public notices on District 10's home page, at the top, ideally two weeks before each town hall meeting. Not targeted notices in e-newsletters to controlled lists of District 10 citizens. And not on "Mark Kirk's Blog" which in your nine-year tenure you've done a single time (a 2/5/09 two-day notice for a 2/7/09 meeting, since transferred to the new July 2009 website's "News Center Blog" as though it were originally a public notice). A new policy should be clearly stated on District 10's website at kirk.house.gov.
Will you give a publicly verifiable "yes" or "no"? While I continue to call for a reply, and for constituents who are following this story, here's one of four letters I'll copy below (a new one each day), sent to the Wilmette Life, exploring other aspects of your management style. (See also " Mark Kirk's honesty may be slipping due to four letters to editor" at my blog, http://illinoispoliticsblog.blogspot.com...
DISTRICT 10'S NON-DEBATE ON IRAQ
(Letter to the editor, edited and printed in the Wilmette Life, May 8, 2008, slightly re-edited)
In April, 2008, General David Petraeus testified before Congress on Iraq. It's a good time to ask: has anybody examined Congressman Mark Kirk's e-mails and newsletters leading to the general's last appearance in September, 2007? If so, you've captured Mr. Kirk's stance. What does the public record reveal?
Most noticeable is what's missing. We, the public. Aside from a June, 2007 mail-in survey (four questions), we've registered hardly a murmur.
Search District 10's website. Ask town librarian, village trustees, neighbors: did Mr. Kirk during June, July, August 2007, running up to September's decision-making time on the "Iraq surge," arrange a single pre-announced opportunity to debate by town, township or district, the Iraq war as a priority? This refers to all venues under Mr. Kirk's control (not to the large anti-Iraq war rally held at Northbrook's Renaissance Hotel, addressed by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Iraq veterans, and absent Mr. Kirk, on August 28, 2007).
Despite apparent unwillingness to schedule any debate, Mr. Kirk sent constituents a Congressional e-mail dated September 20, following (not preceding) Petraeus's September 10-11 appearance. Mr. Kirk claimed he had made a "bipartisan effort to open a constructive, non-political dialogue on Iraq." Held September 10 (one day before spin-sensitive 9/11). Location, undisclosed.
The Chicago Tribune reported the host: Chicago Council on Global Affairs. The event took place at The Chicago Club, in Chicago. The Council's website ("thechicagocouncil.org: Programs: Past programs: 9/10/07") states: "This complimentary event is exclusively for invited guests."
Nevertheless, Mr. Kirk's e-mail: "I was grateful for the opportunity to lead this roundtable discussion about the most important issue before the nation."
Anyone remember Mr. Kirk's "roundtable discussion" on Iraq? Were we invited? Did Mr. Kirk grant any such debate to District 10? Before, not after, Petraeus's appearance?
All we, the public, got was an e-mail, after the fact, informing us of a dialogue in which we never took part.
(District 10 alone has spent 2.8 billion dollars for the Iraq war in total spending approved to date. Source: National Priorities Project)
Wilmette , IL
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