Senator Carper hosts midday town hall via phone

Delaware Senator Tom Carper took questions from residents over the phone for about 45 minutes this afternoon as part of his tele-town hall for the business community.

Carper says more than 5,600 people joined the call to ask questions and hear Carper’s answers. Queries included questions like what impact will high gas prices have on the overall economy, and what is Carper doing to bring a disciplined approach to federal spending.

Carper says one thing he’s worked with President Obama on is cutting down on improper payments made by the federal government.  Carper says last year, the government misspent $125 billion dollars.  “The administration has said they’re going to cut in half by 2012 improper payments that are made in the Department of Health and Human Services.  Those improper payments are about $50 billion now,” Carper says.

Carper and other lawmakers have started hosting more tele-town halls in recent years, in part, because they can get so many more people to participate at one time.  “Telephone town hall meetings provide a unique and convenient forum to allow thousands of Delawareans to participate in a conversation about what’s important to their lives, families and communities,” says Carper. Those who couldn’t get their questions asked during the 45-minute town hall session were asked to leave their questions at the end of the call for follow up by Carper’s staff.