Sunday, January 31, 1999
Portman meets voters; 'the' topic untouched
BY LEW MOORES
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HARRISON — U.S. Rep. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park, heads somewhere in his sprawling congressional district once every six weeks to conduct a “town meeting.” But Saturday morning was one of the rare occasions recently when he wasn't asked about impeachment.
“I didn't want it to come up,” he said, smiling.
Instead, Mr. Portman set the agenda Saturday morning at Harrison High School, talking about Social Security and covering other ground during the public forum.
Between 30 and 50 people attended the meeting, asking the congressman about taxes, education, gun control and the size of the federal government, as well as Social Security and personal problems they have had with federal bureau cracies.
He was accompanied by staff members who talked individually with people seeking answers and help with predicaments with federal agencies.
“This is great for me,” said Mr. Portman. “Everything from Social Security to defense and education. It's a helpful way for me to get input. And it's also like having a mobile case-worker office.”
Mr. Portman told those attending that Congress must figure out a way to make Social Security continue to work as the baby boomer generation approaches retirement age in the next decade or two.
Of the issues facing Congress right now, he told his constituents, “none is more important than Social Security. There's no issue people care more about. ... Now is the time to prepare ourselves for the next century.”
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