After news came out that the Obama administration agreed to release to citizens a list of people who visited the president at the White House -- with some exceptions -- the Daily Record/Sunday News wondered if the York County Republican -- long a champion of clean, open government -- would do the same.
The answer: No.
"Every day, constituents contact my office to discuss issues or personal problems they are having with government agencies, many of which include health and financial matters," Rep. Platts wrote in reply. "I have a very real concern that were these interactions public, then my constituents might feel too intimidated, scared, embarrassed or self-conscious to approach my office for help."
Good grief, no one asked for transcripts or video of the sessions. And it's hard to imagine people come in and spill their guts to their congressman as if he were their therapist.
The request was for a simple list of visitors so constituents might get a glimpse into who meets with him to lobby him on important issues of the day.



