For the second time in less than a week, U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, D-3rd, was in Butler for a town hall meeting. During the August recess, Dahlkemper is meeting with people from across her district to talk, mostly about health care reform. And as she travels the district, Dahlkemper carries a copy of House Resolution 3200 with her. The thick document is tagged and slightly dog-eared, evidence that the first-term Erie Democrat has read the 1,100-page bill.

While much of the television coverage of town hall meetings across the country feature angry protestors and shouting matches, Dahlkemper says her experience has been mostly one of civility and respect, even from those who disagree with her or have serious objections to the House of Representatives' current version of health care reform.

One sign held at Dahlkemper's meeting Monday afternoon in Diamond Park in downtown Butler expressed the most productive attitude — "Discussion, not disruption."

While answering questions, Dahlkemper noted that HR 3200 will probably see changes before a final vote is taken. She also talked about some issues not addressed in HR 3200, such as tort reform. That issue was raised by two questioners in Diamond Park, and Dahlkemper said she believes it should be a part of the final health care reform bill.

Some questioners were satisfied with Dahlkemper's answers, others were not. But mostly, the crowd of about 100 people was civil and respectful. Dahlkemper praised the attendees for their civic responsibility and stressed that health care reform is something everyone should have an interest in understanding.

She also encouraged feedback beyond the questions posed at the meeting and asked people to fill out forms provided at the meeting or call her office or communicate through her Web site. The feedback, Dahlkemper insisted, would be taken back to Washington in September when debate over health care reform will resume.

Addressing those who disagree with the House's approach to health care reform, Dahlkemper stressed the critical need to do something. Without changes, she said, the growth in health care spending will only cause greater financial hardships on citizens and businesses who provide health care coverage for their employees. There can be — and should be — serious debate about how best to address the problem, but there can be no disagreement that changes are necessary.

Not everyone at Monday's town hall meeting could have their question heard. But Dahlkemper selected a broad sampling from the crowd, and it was evident that she was not hiding from tough questions or selecting only people who agreed with her.

To her credit, Dahlkemper is getting out in her district and hosting town hall meetings to help inform people about the lastest version of health care reform. In the process, she works to dispel rumors and encourages more people to read the bill and continue to ask questions.

Dahlkemper noted that not every member of Congress was going out and addressing questions, sometimes hostile ones, about health care reform. In fact, some suggested that she not do it. But, to her credit, Dahlkemper is out there, talking with her constituents, answering their questions and listening to their comments or objections.

No matter what happens with health care reform, not everyone will be satisfied. But Dahlkemper's town hall meetings represent the kind of discussion that should help shape health care reform, or any other important public policy issue. Too often, members of Congress stay in Washington and are influenced more by lobbyists and campaign contributors than average Americans.

As Dahlkemper noted at the end of her visit to Butler Monday afternoon, these town hall meetings are democracy in action.

And that's something we need more of, not only on the issue of health care reform, but also on energy policy, stimulus spending, deficit reduction and tax policy.