On Monday night, we held our third telephone town hall of the year. Over the course of an hour, I visited with callers from Fayetteville, Ozark, West Memphis, Bentonville, Bryant, Cane Hill, Blytheville, Gentry, West Helena, Springdale, and Gravette. 

The issues that were discussed included: 

• Holding the administration accountable for the IRS scandal;
• The President’s health care law;
• The failures that led to the Benghazi tragedy and its aftermath;
• Illegal immigration & border security;
• NSA overreach and the Patriot Act;
• Food stamp abuse;
• Excessive federal spending;
• Second Amendment rights;
• and the need for stricter oversight of the Administration’s actions

Perhaps the best question came right at the end when a caller asked me, “Why should we trust the government?”

Considering Congress’s approval rating is currently around 15 percent, it’s a tough question to answer.

I believe accessibility, transparency and accountability would go a long way to restoring faith in Washington. That’s why I do these telephone town halls. Just because I am in Washington right now does not mean I am not accountable to the people of Arkansas, so I have to remain in touch when I am away.

The onus is on Washington to change our low approval ratings, not the other way around. I try to remind my colleagues that we have to be home every weekend and we need to hold events like telephone and online town halls when we are away. Most importantly, we have to listen to what our constituents tell us at these events and when they contact our offices via phone, email or letter. It is vital that we listen to our constituents, help them with their individual needs, and represent them in Washington the way that they ask of us.

So please stay engaged. Sign-up for our next telephone town hall. Let me know your thoughts on issues of importance to you. Grab me when see me in Arkansas and let me know what is on your mind.  I am committed to making Washington work for Arkansas and I need you to keep us on the right path.