Joe J. Walsh Quotes

As a legislator, I saw how effective I could be by being transparent, posting and explaining all of my votes.

We cover Congress only when it gets to the final vote on something, too late for the public to respond.

As chair of the CBC, I will do all I can to be supportive of Congressman Conyers.

The job of an elected official is to communicate, to talk with constituents, to talk with the people of America, and I think Alexandria is excellent at doing that.

I have had the opportunity to speak to the people of South Jersey. I have held Tele-Town Halls, gone to countless events, and met with thousands of the individuals who make up our community.

How many members of Congress go face the people in a town meeting and are prepared to answer questions from the floor. That to me is the real litmus test.

Part of the problem you have is that you don't have a dialogue between elected officials and their constituents. They've built these barricades, these barriers around themselves and tried to avoid interaction with their constituents.

So, for me the town hall meetings are really an opportunity to engage in two-way dialogue with people, and they've been very helpful.

When I was first elected to the House in 2006, it was important to me to send a clear message to the people of NY-20: I wanted to be a representative for the people and shed some light on their government, so I became the first member of Congress to post my schedule, my financial disclosures and my earmark requests all online.

Representative government demands an ongoing conversation between legislators and constituents.

The best thing about the Congress is that it is the last place where you can have face-to-face interviews and interaction with the newsmakers themselves.

I figured there's nobody who's going to beat me or shoot me or crucify me. I can't help if people don't like me up there in Washington. I've got a district that I respect, and I think it respects me.

To make representation real and actual, the number of Representatives ought to be adequate; they ought to mix with the people, think as they think, feel as they feel, ought to be perfectly amenable to them, and thoroughly acquainted with their interest and condition:

Members [of Congress] go back now and report on TV. And the local press doesn't have the slightest idea of what you're doing on public policy unless you get caught in a scandal.

A voting record is your work product. It tells people where you stand on issues, and for better or worse it implies you're there doing what you're elected to do. It's the only litmus test available.

Being a member of Congress is a hard job but it's an uplifting job.

Our political system is losing its ability to even explore alternatives …. I hope we will demand judgment from our leaders.

… once you acknowledge the fact that Congress is after all made up of citizens elected to represent all of us, you must have some faith in their framing common sense laws.

I love representing Minnesota in the Senate.

Senator Franken was a strong voice for Minnesota and I'm also a strong voice for Minnesota.

Throughout my first term in office, we have taken many steps to keep my commitment to make my work in Congress as transparent and accessible as possible.

People should hold elected officials accountable for how they vote. Period.

As the youngest child of a single immigrant mother with a third-grade education, I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd ever be an elected official.

I have an open door to meet with my constituents and that I work hard to respond to their needs, and I'm proud of the constituent service that we provide.

It takes time for 700,000 people to get to know their congressman.