SALT LAKE CITY -
The Pandering Phantom? Combine the most extreme critiques from either side of the political aisle aimed at Utah Congressman Jim Matheson and that's what you get. Democrat Rocky Anderson says Utahs only Democrat in Washington is pandering to his conservative constituency when he votes against the House version of health reform. State Republican Party Chair, Dave Hansen says Matheson is the Phantom Congressman avoiding town hall meetings where the public has expressed angry outrage from many perspectives.
In an interview with Fox 13, Matheson says neither is true. Speaking of the bill, he voted to kill in the house energy and commerce committee. Matheson said "it fails to do anything to control that excessive cost growth. That's why I voted against it. But if people want to draw other conclusions about why I voted no, I guess that's their right."
As for the Republican criticism that he's avoiding town halls, he says its a matter of semantics: "All I can say is I've talked to 45,000 of my constituents on the phone this year alone and that doesn't count any other live meetings. I think my constituents know that I'm out there and talking to as many of them as I possibly can."
Representative Matheson will continue to be in the middle of the debate because of his membership in two groups. The Energy and Commerce Committee is home to health care debate in the House of Representatives, and the so-called Blue Dog caucus of conservative Democrats in the House will be courted for their votes when (or if) a plan is finalized.
FOX 13's Max Roth has the story.
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In an interview with Fox 13, Matheson says neither is true. Speaking of the bill, he voted to kill in the house energy and commerce committee. Matheson said "it fails to do anything to control that excessive cost growth. That's why I voted against it. But if people want to draw other conclusions about why I voted no, I guess that's their right."
As for the Republican criticism that he's avoiding town halls, he says its a matter of semantics: "All I can say is I've talked to 45,000 of my constituents on the phone this year alone and that doesn't count any other live meetings. I think my constituents know that I'm out there and talking to as many of them as I possibly can."
Representative Matheson will continue to be in the middle of the debate because of his membership in two groups. The Energy and Commerce Committee is home to health care debate in the House of Representatives, and the so-called Blue Dog caucus of conservative Democrats in the House will be courted for their votes when (or if) a plan is finalized.
FOX 13's Max Roth has the story.
SEND US YOUR NEWS AND WEATHER PICTURES! Click Here to Visit Our Photo/Video Submission Page
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @fox13now
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