Last night, President Barack Obama encouraged Americans to get in touch with their representatives so they know what their constituents think.

In the spring, KHTS is taking it one step further, launching its first-ever organized (and hopefully, annual) trip to Washington D.C. for community leaders to get some up close and personal time with the nation’s problem solvers.

Fashioned after the station’s annual Sacramento Trip, where 70 people – mostly business owners, elected officials, school board members and those representing special interest groups – take a bus trip up to the state Capitol for a day of meeting with various legislators and discussing problems and issues close to our community’s heart, this trip is open to 25 interested parties hoping to influence and learn from the workings of Congress.

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In fact, it was probably the success of the Sacramento trip, organized initially by station co-owner Carl Goldman and the late state Assemblyman Keith Richman and now mentored by Assemblyman Cameron Smyth,  that caught the attention of Congressman Buck McKeon, who is helping Goldman bring this group to Washington.

The trip brings together Santa Clarita Valley activists and gives them an opportunity to better understand the challenges legislators face at every level of the government, as well as a chance to lobby for important local issues, including education, transportation, water and health care.

The Washington trip, which is sponsored by The Gas Company, the SCV Chamber of Commerce and a partnership between KHTS and McKeon’s office, is scheduled May 15-17, 2012.

“We anticipate our Washington D.C. trip to be a terrific companion to our annual Sacramento Road Trip,” Goldman said. “The initial response has been incredibly positive. We know we can make an impact and anticipate that this will become an annual event.”

McKeon was also optimistic, adding, “I’m delighted that local business leaders and elected representatives are willing to make the trip to our nation’s Capitol to ensure that legislators and government officials hear their side of the issues first hand,” he said. “Too often, the only voices heard in Washington are those of the special interests.

“Our community’s activists can personally share with officials in DC the daily personal struggles they face to create and maintain jobs and help the economy grow,” he continued. “In face-to-face meetings, they can illustrate how the government can be helpful and, more importantly, when government can get out of the way to allow entrepreneurs to flourish.”

KHTS will be broadcasting interviews and reporting on meetings throughout the trip to keep our community informed. For information on the trip, contact Goldman at 661-298-1220 or email carl@hometownstation.com