Feingold tops in listening to his constituents

According to a review of senators’ 2010 schedules by Congress.org, Democratic U.S. Senator Russ Feingold has held the most town-hall meetings this year of any sitting U.S. Senator:

[T]he Wisconsin Democrat has held 72 town-hall meetings this year — a rate of nearly one every three days.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) came in second with 65, followed by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) with 42; Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) with 37; and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) with 29. (See the complete list of events here.)

The senators’ staffers confirmed the schedules, which include meetings held between Jan. 1 and Aug. 20. However, the final numbers will change before the end of the year, especially in these last months before the November elections.

One reason Feingold was in the top spot was because he enjoys attending them.

“It’s basically the best thing I do as a senator,” he told Congress.org. “It’s very different than a poll or phone call. It’s a far more real experience.”

It’s no surprise Sen. Feingold is first among his peers when it comes to listening to his constituents, given his promise back in 1992 to hold open meetings in each of the state’s 72 counties every year that he served in the U.S. Senate.