Thread by @BucksCoKierstyn

@immelza @RepBrianFitz @townhallproject I think we ALL (not just #PA01) need to have an open conversation about what #TownHall events are going to look like in a world where #SocialDistancing is a MUST.

#TownHalls are an integral part of representative #Democracy, and we must preserve their spirit.
1/?

@immelza @RepBrianFitz @townhallproject @IndivisibleTeam @PA_Indivisible Part of this issue is finding some organization to moderate telephone #TownHall events.

We cannot leave the event management and moderation in the hands of our lawmakers, regardless of their party.
2/?

@immelza @RepBrianFitz @townhallproject @IndivisibleTeam @PA_Indivisible Having experiences any number of telephone #townhall events from multiple lawmakers, I will tell you that the best of them can be informative, candid, and revealing of a lawmaker's goals and priorities.
3/?

@immelza @RepBrianFitz @townhallproject @IndivisibleTeam @PA_Indivisible But the worst of those #Telephony #Townhalls (looking at you @RepBrianFitz of #PA01 and @SenToomey), turn into scripted, self-marketing, monstrosities...

I have heard critical calls dropped, staffers quoting press releases as they pose as callers, and obvious issues ignored.
4/?

@immelza @RepBrianFitz @townhallproject @IndivisibleTeam @PA_Indivisible @SenToomey We need to develop a third party monitored system to manage these telephone #TownHall events to ensure that the lawmakers' staffer are not filtering calls.

We need video feed of lawmakers to see that they are not reading their own press statements on calls.
5/?

@immelza @RepBrianFitz @townhallproject @IndivisibleTeam @PA_Indivisible @SenToomey We need to protect the role of the CITIZEN in these telephone #TownHall. We must ensure access of journalists, so such events can be covered in the media.

A lawmaker is not a real representative unless they are hearing constituent feedback in a public forum.

Ideas?

6/end