An intimate, collegial chat between Titus and 2,370 people

By Lisa Mascaro

Sunday, March 22, 2009 | 2 a.m.

You have to believe more than a few people were annoyed when the phone rang at dinner time Thursday evening and the recorded voice on the other end launched into the sales pitch.

“Hello,” the caller said in a Southern drawl. “This is Congresswoman Dina Titus calling to invite you to join me this evening on a telephone town hall to discuss the issues facing our community.”

In a surprising spark of civic curiosity, 2,370 people did not hang up.

In fact, over the course of the next hour, these people engaged the congresswoman in a lively debate.

Martha from Las Vegas asked about help for seniors having trouble with their mortgages.

Russell in Henderson wanted to know what the congresswoman is doing to keep up the public schools.

Jeanetta wanted to make sure the economic stimulus money was being well spent.

What was striking was not only the enthusiasm the people on the other end of the line brought to the conversation, but the civility of political discourse.

Titus brought similar zeal to her end of the conversation. She sounded a little like the faraway relative calling home on Thanksgiving, as the receiver gets passed from one family member to another.

“I’ve been working really hard in the district to stay in touch with people so I can represent you to the best of my ability,” Titus said as she opened the conversation.

“People ask me, ‘Are you excited to be in Congress? Are you having fun?’

“I can tell you, it’s an exciting and historic time, but I haven’t had time to have any fun,” she continued. “It’s a quarter-mile from my office to where I vote and I make that run several times a day. We’re doing a lot of work in a hurry.”

With that, the lines lit up for questions.

“I’m a senior citizen and I live on Social Security,” Jamie from Henderson said. “My problem is I can’t afford dental care … can’t afford my prescriptions.

What, she asked, is Titus doing “to help senior citizens with these kinds of problems?”

Titus delivered a detailed synopsis of health care legislation, including President Barack Obama’s plans for reform. She said her staff can help Jamie get in touch with the right resources at Social Security.

“You’ll be surprised if you find the right person to call — if you ever get through the buttons to push to a real person — you might get something done,” Titus said. “My office can help you with that.” She gave out her office number.

Jamie seemed relieved. “Oh that’s marvelous.”

Max from Henderson had one question:

“As our junior Congresslady, are you going to be able to separate yourself from Senators Reid and Ensign and Congresslady Berkley if they’re in the wrong?” (Titus is the newcomer to the delegation, serving her first term in Congress.)

Titus told Max that she ran as a candidate who “thinks for herself” in her first bid for public office 20 years ago, and hasn’t strayed.

“You can count on me to always be an independent thinker,” she said.

Max seems pleased: “God bless you and get in there and give them the dickens.”

To Martha, concerned about foreclosures, Titus invited her to a housing fair on April 18 in Las Vegas.

“Not only will I come, I’m going to get a train load of other people,” Martha said.

Not everyone on the call had been supporters.

“I voted Republican. I’m sorry, I don’t know why,” said 84-year-old Elizabeth from Henderson. “Maybe it’s just old age.”

“That’s all right,” Titus said. “That’s what makes this country great. Everybody gets to choose.”

After about a dozen questions, the call had to come to an end.

Dinner time was just about over.