Congressman Brian Baird, who has come under fire for not communicating with the public about the health care reform bills being considered by Congress, announced Thursday he will hold a town hall meeting in Longview next week.

Baird’s announcement did not specifically mention the health care debate, but constituents in the 3rd District have been clamoring to take on the issue. A meeting in Longview with Baird and U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray about the future of Mount St. Helens was canceled this week after the meeting’s agenda was misrepresented by supporters of reform to include health care.

Baird, who said he received death threats over the health care issue, was criticized for holding a town hall meeting last week by telephone conference call, rather than in person.

He said Thursday he would hold a town hall meeting Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Cowlitz County Expo Center. The forum is among five town halls that Baird, a Democrat, will host throughout the month. Another has been scheduled for Tuesday in Vancouver. Dates for the other three have not been announced.

Baird said earlier this week he was considering ways to keep the meetings from becoming too volatile. He said Wednesday that people who wish to speak at the meetings will be asked to write their names on cards, which will be drawn randomly by an independent moderator. Questions, as well as Baird’s responses, will each be limited to three minutes, he said.

The method “will give a real chance for people from many different perspectives to be heard,” Baird said in a statement.

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Baird apologizes for statements, announces health care town hall series