After plea from Obama, Republican congressmen report "slight" increase in call volume

The day after President Obama called for Americans to reach out to their representatives and express support his debt ceiling vision, staffers of Tennessee congressmen are reporting a "manageable" increase in phone activity. 

"We've seen a slight uptick in our call and email volume, and are handling each them on an individual basis," Jordan Powell, press secretary for Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, said. "This is an important issue, and we understand this is a normal occurrence when hot topics arise."

Powell said that comments from calls and e-mails were being relayed to the congressman, but could not provide detail as to how many of the messages were to express solidarity with Fleischmann or to ask the congressman to reconsider his stance. 

Alice Turner, a Chattanooga resident, e-mailed Fleischmann to express her disappointment in his performance regarding the debt issue, along with his fellow Republican congressmen.

"I think it's ridiculous that they're willing to put us in jeopardy like this when they were elected to protect our interests," Turner said. "It's a betrayal of the American people's trust when they act this petty."

Fleischmann has unflaggingly called on lawmakers to pass a balanced budget amendment to the constitution, set spending caps, and execute drastic spending cuts. He shares many of the same views as his fellow freshman Republican, Rep. Scott DesJarlais, who has said that any plan to increase the debt limit must contain immediate and substantial spending cuts and reforms.

Robert Jameson, spokesperson for DesJarlais, also reported an increase in the level of caller and e-mail volume following the president's speech, but was quick to describe it as short of overwhelming.

"We've received about 200 phone calls and 550 e-mails about the debt-limit on Tuesday," Jameson said. "That's certainly an increased level, but it's manageable. Many of the callers want the congressman to stand firm on the debt limit."

Jameson said that every message received by the congressman's office was categorized and entered in a database, a practice typical of most Washington lawmakers. 

With an August 2 deadline rapidly approaching, House and Senate members are expected to vote on some form of deficit-reducing legislation by the end of the week.