• Sen. Russ Feingold held a listening session at Milwaukee Public Library Friday
• Milwaukee County citizens offered their opinions to Feingold
• Over 100 residents attended the annual event
• Iraq, health care, global warming and impeachment were discussed

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) listened to questions, grievances and advice from Milwaukee County residents at the Milwaukee Public Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave., Friday.

Feingold meets with all 72 counties in Wisconsin annually to listen to residents. He said this listening session was No. 1,101 and the 21st this year. He began holding the events in 1993.

More than 100 residents attended the event and about half were able to speak directly to Feingold. Feingold said the event was the most attended listening session this year. He encouraged attendees to discuss whatever they wanted.

Feingold and residents discussed the war in Iraq, healthcare, global warming and presidential impeachment, among other issues. No one in attendance asked about the pollution of Lake Michigan, although Feingold mentioned it in his opening speech.

Before the listening session began, paper slips were handed out to attendees, who filled out their names, addresses and topics they wished Feingold to discuss.

Feingold read attendees' names from random slips of paper and attendees talked about the matter they proposed on their slip.

Rick Godkin, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, attended the listening event because he was concerned about growing tuition costs.

"College isn't cheap," Godkin said to Feingold. "What is the federal government doing to increase financial aid?"

Feingold replied that students need more help paying for college and said Congress needs to create laws to ensure better grants and lower interest rates on student loans.

Afterward, Godkin said he enjoyed the listening session.

"It's nice to know that there's somebody out there who cares about the issues," he said.

Impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney and President George W. Bush was a hot topic at the listening session. More than 10 people brought it up. In April, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) said he plans to file articles of impeachment against Cheney.

Feingold said he thinks Bush and Cheney have committed impeachable crimes, but said, "I don't think there's enough stomach in Congress." He told attendees to wait less than a year until another president takes office. Feingold also said he believes Bush is "the worst president we've ever had."

Some attendees asked about the threat of global warming and the lack of discussion about the issue in the presidential nomination debates.

Feingold said he's extremely concerned about global warming and is currently trying to push a bill through legislation.

Some attendees also asked Feingold his opinion on health care.

"I prefer a plan that guarantees everyone has health care," Feingold said.

Feingold said mental health was as important to health care as physical health.

A Vietnam War veteran in attendance said post-traumatic stress disorder in soldiers is being overlooked and Iraq war veterans are not given the treatment they deserve. Feingold said soldiers should be tested for mental health issues as soon as they return from duty.

The crowd at the library was mainly made up of Feingold supporters and almost every attendee thanked Feingold for his work in Congress. "You're the sanest person in Washington," one man said. Another said, "I want you to be a lone voice in the wilderness."

Others thanked Feingold for his perfect attendance record in Congress last year. Feingold said he was just "showing up for work.""After an hour and a half, Feingold, pressed for time, quipped, "In the interest of time, no more compliments."