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U.S. Rep. Hansen Clarke Answers Questions in Community Town Hall
The congressman took written questions on a litany issues from a crowd of about 50 in Cleminson Hall at Grosse Pointe South Wednesday.
U.S. Representative Hansen Clarke answers questions Wednesday during a town hall meeting at Grosse Pointe South. About 50 people attended.
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U.S. Rep. Hansen Clarke, a Detroit Democrat who represents the five Pointes, held a town hall forum at Grosse Pointe South Wednesday and continued to call for a “federal trust fund” for his beleaguered city.
The plan, which Clarke said has 30 supporters in the House of Representatives, would divert all federal income tax paid by Detroiters away from Washington and into a fund that could be used to lower the debt burden of both the city and Detroit Public Schools.
“This is not about Detroit, this is about creating jobs and building manufacturing opportunities all across this country,” Clarke told a crowd of about 50 in Cleminson Hall at Grosse Pointe South.
Clarke, a former state senator who replaced scandal-ridden Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick in January, also touted how he worked to make sure homeland security money was spent in Metro Detroit.
Rather than take questions directly from the audience, Clarke had visitors write their questions down on index cards and then two Grosse Pointe South students asked the questions.
When asked about the Michigan film tax credit, the congressman's response was brief: “It makes my job so much easier to talk about investing in Detroit when Detroit is being showcased around the country and around the world.”
But Clarke, whose staff self-imposed a three-minute limit on each of his responses, spoke at length on the Occupy Wall Street movement. He seemed to sympathize with the basic concerns of the protesters, and said he’d like to move toward an America where people “really have freedom, and I think the only way you can really be free is when you’re not under water on debt.”
The questions asked by the student moderators seemed to be very indirect — rather than a specific question, Clarke was simply asked for his “thoughts” on social security and health care, two very broad topics.
On health care, Clarke made some personal remarks about his health, saying that switching to a diet low in meat has helped the 54-year-old congressman deal with his hectic schedule. He went on to say he’d like to change the American health system from one that “just manages diseases” to one that “helps promote some of those integrated types of medical treatments” that are less costly and often more effective.
Clarke said he supports anti-bullying legislation, but that “legislation won’t change somebody’s heart, their patience, their level of understanding,” making bullying a complex issue with no catch-all solution.
Clarke is up for reelection in 2012, and announced his intentions to seek the seat in District 14 following the redistricting that seriously affected his current district.
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A Conversation With Your Congressman: Town Hall Meeting with Hansen Clarke
October 19, 2011 at 6:00 pm–7:30 pm -
Grosse Pointe South High School
11 Grosse Pointe Blvd, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI -
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Rick
12:39 pm on Thursday, October 20, 2011
thanks for taking real questions from a group of people that are so underrepresented by anyone holding this seat. You dont care about our needs as a community only about the big votes you can get from the gimme gimme crowd within the city. If you are going to have a Town Hall Have one!!! This was a sham and a pr event at best. Get a backbone on your stances, I may disagree with you but at least I can respect you for taking a stand.
Edith Brown
7:08 pm on Thursday, October 20, 2011
On the contrary, I found Rep. Clarke's visit to our city remarkably fresh! When was the last time, GP has ever had a town hall meeting with their current member of Congress? I'll tell you when Mr. Morisette, NEVER. The former Rep. Cheeks Kilpatrick never bothered to come out and host a town hall. For the first time in a very long time, I feel listened to and heard. I may not know Rep. Hansen Clarke very well but he made an effort to come out and greet us, take questions, provide some answers, and take our feedback with him to DC. The town hall last night was a terrific start to a continued relationship with my representative in Congress-- and I look forward to his strengthening his relationship with all of us GP's going forward. After meeting Hansen, you can tell that he truly cares about what people say and how they think. He is down to earth, respectful, and highly creative! I respect him and applaud his visit to GPF and I encourage my neighbors to quit complaining aimlessly, playing into the 'victim's mentality' of 'oh, nobody cares about us here in the Pointes...' Just stop. Get involved. Speak out constructively. Appreciate your new member of Congress, Rep. Hansen Clarke, who made time for us and shared meaningful dialogue with all of us in attendance. Thank you so much, Congressman Clarke! We appreciate you!! Bless the great work you're doing on behalf of all your constituents-- including the Pointes! Bless you.
Rick
7:57 pm on Thursday, October 20, 2011
Ms Brown,
I in no way wanted to offend anyone and i apologize if I did so. I seem to have struck a nerve with you. Please look back to the article and notice that the writer noted the questions asked were very indirect and his answers broad at best. I like very much that the Senator came here, but in no way will do cartwheels for such an effort. He should be here, we need to be heard. By heard I mean we get to ask him questions directly and hear his responses. I did support Hanson over all others when he ran, i am simply against this type of grandstanding. BTW please realize that you do not know me and or my level of involvement and I feel my comments were constructive towards a candidate that really wants to get to know me. We are all citizens of this great nation and having a challenged opinion on something does not make one the enemy. Your visceral attack towards myself and others disenting with you is unfounded and unnecessary.
Edith Brown
12:55 pm on Friday, October 21, 2011
Rick, first off, you're the one that sounds insulting-- so just drop it! Second, please correctly refer to Hansen Clarke. He's not a senator, Rick, he's our Congressman! Lastly, if you really took the time to get to know Mr. Clarke and took a look at his record and the wonderful job he's done over the past 12 years fighting for people-- you would never claim that his first town hall meeting in GPF was 'grandstanding'. Now, I'm offended. Please get your facts right and stop fueling negativity... it's not necessary. I pray you change course right away. God bless you.
Rick
3:18 pm on Friday, October 21, 2011
sorry about the mix up on the senator thing God Bless you as wel!l this is overblown and silly now!!! so I will choose to move on! Be well!!!!