Nancy Lohmann, Morgantown
Am I the only constituent of Rep. David McKinley who has trouble finding out his position on controversial issues? When calling his office about an issue that is controversial, don’t his constituents deserve more than the person answering the phone indicating that he has not talked to the congressman so does not know his position?
I called McKinley’s office twice thus far last week — on Monday and Wednesday — asking about his position on the separation of families at the border and other immigration areas. Given that President Trump met with the Republican Caucus on Tuesday evening and the news reports for more than a week about this issue, I called on Wednesday on the assumption that McKinley should now have enough information to have decided what legislation he supported. But with this, as with other issues I’ve called about over the last few years, I’m told that the person answering the phone does not know his position.
Admittedly, some of any politician’s constituents are going to be unhappy no matter what position he or she takes. But as President Truman once said, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
I also called Sen. Shelley Moore Capito’s office on Wednesday. She apparently can stand the heat because the staff member answering the phone could tell me her position. That’s the case for Sen. Joe Manchin’s office, too.
Rep. McKinley, you owe it to your constituents to let us know your thinking and position on issues, even those that are controversial. The response of the person answering the phone that he has not talked with you and doesn’t know is not good enough.
