Congressman Phil Roe is still very much interested in meeting with President Obama.
In August, at a town hall meeting in Raleigh, N.C., the president offered to go over his health care reform bill "line by line" with any member of congress who was interested.
On Wednesday, Roe, R-1st, of Johnson City, wrote the president a second time to accept that offer.
Roe immediately wrote to the president, accepting the invitation, after Obama initially made the statement.
A reporter made the president's press secretary, Robert Gibbs, aware of the letter at that day's daily press briefing.
During the televised briefing, Gibbs said that, if the letter were supplied to him, the administration would "get that done."
In a news release Wednesday, Roe said he has yet to hear back from the president, but has followed up with another letter.
"To date, no one from the White House has even suggested a time when we can sit down and go over the health care bill," Roe stated in the news release.
The congressman added, "Today I sent another letter to the president in hopes that he will sit down with me to hear the concerns and suggestion that I have as your representative.
"From conducting 11 town hall meetings in Tennessee, I have heard your concerns and questions - both of which I would like to address with the president."
TEXT OF ROE'S LETTER:
"To follow up on a previous letter I sent in August, accepting your offer to "come over to the White House and go over line-by-line what's going on," I am still waiting for a response about a scheduled time. The day the letter was faxed to the White House, your Press Secretary Robert Gibbs affirmed your willingness to get that done."
"To date, no one from the White House has even suggested a time when we can sit down and go over the health care bill, which you suggested we do at a town hall meeting in Raleigh.
"In August, the media reported that you took five books to read on your vacation to Martha's Vineyard. I hope that you also found time to thoroughly read this health care legislation.
"I have spent the better part of August traveling my district and discussing the details of this 1,017-page health care bill. The more I review this legislation, the more problems I find. As a physician, I have many ideas and concerns that I would like to share with you.
"We are now in the month of September -- the month in which you proposed at your town hall meeting in Raleigh as a good time to go over the health care legislation with members of Congress 'line-by-line.'
"I am ready and willing to take you up on the pledge you publicly offered to the nation on this important legislation that will affect every American. I look forward to your response and confirmation of a meeting time this month."
Additional information can be found on Roe's Web site at www.roe.house.gov.