Posted on 09/01/2009 9:25:37 AM PDT by HiJinx
Congress needs to slow down when it comes to a national health care program, Sierra Vistans told their congresswoman.
It was a message that Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords heard, often loudly, Monday night at a Sierra Vista town hall meeting on health care reform. It’s something she said she will take back to Congress when the country’s legislative arm resumes work after Labor Day.
“The American people are frustrated. They think we are moving too quickly. It’s too confusing,” and that is evident by what many of the speakers said at the meeting, she remarked after the meeting.
Even a former surgeon general of the United States, Dr. Richard Carmona, agrees the fast-paced action of the Obama administration and Congress is turning the majority of Americans away from a much-needed national health care reform program. It was a comment he made to the Herald/Review as he left the town hall meeting.
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords holds the House Resolution 3200 health care reform bill during her town hall meeting in Sierra Vista on Monday night. Buena Performing Arts Center was filled to capacity. (Ed Honda, Herald/Review)
But it isn’t only the rapid movement to get a health care plan approved and signed into law that got Giffords’ attention at the town hall meeting. Other issues brought up by speakers highlighted the distrust of many people in the audience. Here's a summary of key issues:
Illegal immigrants
Medical care for illegal immigrants was an area that a couple of speakers touched on, wanting the congresswoman to promise that such individuals will not be covered. But her response that one version of the health care reform bill would not allow illegal immigrants to register for health care coverage brought moans of disbelief by many in the audience.
Tort reform
Others demanded that she support tort reform to cut back on the amount of money paid out for medical malpractice. Some claim the only ones benefiting for such lawsuits are lawyers. Giffords said she has supported tort reform for years and will continue in her efforts to ensure such a policy is part of any health care reform measure.
Veterans’ benefits
Some retired military members wanted assurance that their Veterans Affairs and TRICARE for Life medical benefits would not be touched. They received the congresswoman’s personal guarantee that the programs will be protected in any reform law.
Private insurance
What most of the slightly more than 20 people who had a chance to address Giffords wanted was that their current health care insurance plans not be modified by the federal government. As one speaker said, “I would rather have changes made by me, not the government.”
More coverage:
Both sides share concerns
Crowd is vocal but peaceful
Voices from the crowd
Video
Slow down?
NO!
It’s stop, cease, no, nada.
Get the lawyers out, get some folks with actual intellectual credentials in, and fix the stuff that’s broken.
I couldn’t make it, but SandRat estimated in excess of 1,500 people in attendance.
The Buena Performing Arts Center holds at least that many...
Couldn’t agree more...
1500 people? I find it interesting that our politicians have a town hall meeting like this and only give the people one hour. They need to spend many hours talking to the people until the people are heard. Extend the August recess and make these town hall meetings mandantory.
If I ever run for President, one of my platform positions will be a Constitutional amendment that any piece of legislature voted on would have to be read into the Congressional record by an elected legislator.
What is the capacity of the Buena Performing Arts Center?
Amen
Tort reform
Others demanded that she support tort reform to cut back on the amount of money paid out for medical malpractice. Some claim the only ones benefiting for such lawsuits are lawyers. Giffords said she has supported tort reform for years and will continue in her efforts to ensure such a policy is part of any health care reform measure.
If you believe her, I ve got a bridge...
I like your idea, but we can make it bettter by having every one of the nut jobs that vote yes on legistlation have to stand up and read it into the record. That would cause them to reduce the size of these stinking bills down to a few pages and probably get rid of a ton of pork. Especially, if we can then take their own voice and put it into a commerical with, he/she voted yes for this.
Its listed at around 1300. It was a full house.
didn’t know Frank and Kathie Lee were involved in healthcare reform....
Not confusing at all. We don't want nationalized health care in this country.
Do you believe any of this got through to her? Really?
Good, keep up the pressure. Dump the chumps.
She knows that Jesse Kelly, the Marine is going to crush her in 2010 and she’s trying to sound like she’s going hard right. Too late my dear.
Personal opinion? I think she has her agenda and no amount of opposition from us is going to change that.
I spent some time with Jesse on Friday night. He’s got what it takes to beat her; well, everything but a war-chest.
We need to do something about that.
I agree with your personal opinion, HiJinx.
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