Health care forums up in the air

Voters looking for first-hand interaction with their elected officials on the issue of health care during the August recess could be disappointed.

Even though Nevada's representatives in Congress will be traveling home during the summer break, so far they have few, if any, open public forums scheduled.

Not one of the representatives or senators representing Southern Nevada had definitive plans to discuss health care openly with constituents, even though President Barack Obama is pressing them to create and approve a massive overhaul of public health policy in the coming weeks and months.

"They represent this state and should be out there listening to their Nevada constituents," said Henderson resident JoAnn Spair, 62, who said she spent the better part of Tuesday calling representatives and Senators to ask when they might have an open forum. "I think it is outrageous that we don't have access to our representatives."

When asked about August recess plans, members of the Nevada delegation said the following:

Sen. Harry Reid's spokesman said Reid will hold an energy summit early next week in Las Vegas and has plans to have small meetings with constituents, but no open public forums.

A spokeswoman for Sen. John Ensign said Ensign "will be traveling around the state to meet with constituents to discuss health care and other important issues," but that the schedule is not yet set.

A spokesman for Rep. Shelley Berkley said the congresswoman will be at home for most of the recess and expects to have impromptu interaction with consituents wherever she runs into them.

"People come up to her all the time and offer their opinions. They are not shy," Berkley spokesman David Cherry said.

Cherry also said Berkley has some events planned with smaller groups, such as seniors and that she held a "tele-townhall," event July 28.

A spokesman for Rep. Dina Titus said Titus will hold a "Congress on the Corner," event at some point. Congress on the Corner is a monthly event in which Titus sets up a table in a public place and meets with constituents who happen to pass by.

A spokesman for Rep. Dean Heller did not return a call for comment. And Heller didn't have any planned public events listed on his official Web site.