Washington, D.C. -- Since the Bush Administration rolled out its $700-billion bailout proposal for the nation’s financial markets to Congress on Tuesday, nearly 1000 people in Hawaii have called, emailed or faxed their opinions to the Honolulu and Washington, DC offices of U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie.

“I’ve said since this began that there is too much at stake for our economic future and our children’s future for me to just cast a vote and then come home and tell people what I decided,” said Abercrombie.  “I want to know what people think about the various plans and approaches before I vote.”

Abercrombie has turned his Congressional web site, www.house.gov/abercrombie, into an information resource on the issue, with statements, news stories and summaries of the various bailout and economic recovery plans, including the Bush Administration’s, the plan being negotiated by Congressional Democratic leaders, the plan unveiled Thursday evening in a White House meeting by House Republicans, and several variations by individual Members of Congress.  And, he is encouraging the public to look over the various plans and contact him with their thoughts.

“Angry tirades or finger-pointing won’t help much.  But if anyone has a serious thought or suggestion about the approach we should take on this, I’d really like to see it.”

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