I think that speaks to the validity of the Vanity Fair report.

It's disappointing to see the resources of township government exploited so that a few individuals can advance a partisan agenda, regardless of what it is.

Our rule of thumb is we want to sit down and exchange information and ideas with our constituents. When the intent is simply to embarrass the congressman or get publicity for a group or a cause, we will not participate in that.

In order to serve our constituents, we have a standard policy of setting up an appointment. We had no idea you were coming.

The bottom line is every aspect of the federal government has been working to help those devastated by Katrina and to get the Gulf Coast back on its feet. This is an unprecedented natural disaster, and Congress has responded in kind but full recovery does take time.

He's allowing the House to move through the process and ? he's listening to different viewpoints. As a speaker he has an obligation to build consensus.