YOUR

YOUR

CONGRESSMAN

REPORTS

By Rep. Burr P. Harrison

When the average citizen goes into the voting booth on Election Day amfe prepares to mark his ballot for Representative in Congress, I believe he has two points in mind. He intends to vote for the individual he thinks will be the most likely to reflect his own views on public questions. He expects his choice to study carefully each piece of legislation and to exercise his best judgment.

The voter has a right to demand . that his Representative examine a bill closely and decide whether a ■ “yea” or a “nay” vote on it would be in line with the best interests, and the wishes, of the citizens in his home district. After all, those who exercise the right of the ballot in the United States are the employers of legislators.

The Representative, once elected has the further responsibility of reporting to the citizens on what is happening in Congress that might affect their interests. That is the only excuse for this news• paper column.

He must realize too, that public opinion changes, and that issues which were not active during an election campaign often become very important many months later, when the President makes a recommendation to Congress, dr a controversial bill is introduced. ' During the recesses of Congress, it is possible for a Representative to come home from Washington and Jcarn how folks are thinking. Now ' with Congress in session and its committees operating full blast, the trips home must be fewer and shorter. That is why 1 am imposing on the citizens of the Seventh Congressional District of Virginia by* sending them, through the mails a questionaire.

This set of 38 questions, with "* an explanatory .letter, has been mailed on a non partisan basis to voting households. My plan was to reach each home in which there is