The majority of a raucous and occasionally hostile crowd of about 1,200 people expressed opposition to proposed health care legislation in a town hall meeting with U.S Rep. Chet Edwards on Wednesday.
The emotional forum lasted two hours, and 20 voters asked questions of the congressman. Of that 20, four expressed support for the health care proposal or said they wished the bill would do more, 13 expressed opposition to the bill and three didn't make their views clear.
Much of the dialogue was interrupted by jeers or applause from each side, and many audience members shouted at Edwards or other people in attendance.
The Democrat remained calm throughout the event as he paced back and forth on the Brazos Center stage with a microphone pinned to his lapel.
Much of the discussion, and much of the shouting, was about whether certain controversial items are included in the current bill in the House. One person asked whether government "death panels" would be created to determine whether it would be worthwhile to provide medical care to elderly patients. Edwards said emphatically that they wouldn't. Several others asked whether illegal immigrants would be provided any new services in the bill. They wouldn't, Edwards said.
Edwards stressed that he had not yet made a decision on how to vote, but he did lay out certain provisions that he hoped to see.
He said that he wouldn't support a single-payer, government-run health insurance plan similar to those in Canada and England but that he hadn't made up his mind on an optional government-run program that would compete with private insurers.
He said he supported reforming insurance to prevent companies from dropping or withholding coverage from patients with pre-existing conditions or imposing lifetime or annual caps on medical expenses. He also said he wanted the bill to expand coverage to many of the 46 million Americans who are currently uninsured.
"I think our goal ought to be to continue the public private-partnership that we have today and do the best we can to see that you have access to quality health care that nobody can take away from you," he said.
Many people who spoke at the meeting, however, raised concerns about the cost of the plan and the ability and right of the federal government to bring reform.
"I currently have a right to a private health care system if I want it," Tom Konderla said as many in the audience cheered. "Where does it say in the U.S. Constitution that the federal government can usurp that right and impose their will upon me as a citizen of the United States?"
Edwards responded that the federal government has been involved in health care for years by providing subsidies, health insurance for veterans and programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. He asked those in the crowd if they would support eliminating Medicare and Medicaid, and a large group raised their hands and said they would. Edwards countered that he believed such views didn't represent the opinion of the majority of his district.
Responding to the concerns about the cost of the bill, which is estimated at $100 billion a year over the next 10 years, Edwards said he would support only a bill that made it clear how the government would pay for it. In the current bill, half would be paid for by savings in the health care system and much of the rest would come from tax increases for people who earn more than $350,000.
The descriptions of tax increases brought loud jeers from many in the audience. A smaller but substantial group expressed support for the health care legislation and applauded many of Edwards' comments.
The crowd was energetic from the beginning, and at times seemed more like rival football fans than participants in a policy debate.
A line formed outside the building about two hours before the event began and stretched down the street by the time the doors opened.
Groups from both sides of the debate carried signs -- even though they were banned from the event -- and chanted as they entered the building.
In an apparent effort to eliminate any speculation that the questions were preselected, attendees wrote their names on cards as they entered the building. Members of the crowd then drew the names out of a bowl, and those selected were allowed to ask their questions.
"I think it is a great tribute to the citizens of this district that they showed up in such large numbers," Edwards said in a brief interview afterward. "I am glad they had an opportunity to express their views. ... My goal is to hear from all side of this issue."
RSS
Mobile
Daily Emails
Twitter
Facebook
