Americans’ Health Care Frustration Evident at Town Halls

It’s legal, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi doesn’t like it. Citizens have been voicing their concerns about health care reform and other hot button issues to their Representatives at Town Hall meetings recently. Unfortunately, a few protestors of Health Care Reform were injured and some arrested at town hall meetings yesterday in St. Louis, Mo. and Tampa, Fla. At the Tampa town hall where U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) spoke, crowd chants of “You work for us!” and “Open Door Policy!” and “Hear our voice!” went on for some time at the public meeting. Once you see and read the details, you may wonder what exactly happened, how some people got hurt, and why the police made arrests.

Town halls have become something those opposed to Health Care Reform have recognized as a way to make their voices better heard. But will voices be heard, if Town Hall meetings are not held?

As the U.S. Senate wraps up its work August 7 and goes on break, some U.S. senator’s offices polled yesterday were keeping details of Town hall meetings close to the vest.

Perhaps some of the closed-mouth attitude was due to some U.S. Representatives who have been surprised by upset constituents questioning them on Health Care Reform at town halls. Many have seen the YouTube video of Sen. Arlen Specter’s recent town hall meeting, in which an uproar arose when Sen. Specter said the Health Care Reform bill was so big, but it’s divided up and… “we have to make judgements very fast.” He added after the crowd roared in disapproval that “Every bill is read slowly and understood by me before I vote.” Does that include the stimulus bill, too, Sen. Specter?

Having read most of the Health Care Reform bill, I had big concerns: 1) How are we were going to pay for it? 2) Abortion is included (is that health care?) 3) Health care will be rationed 4) The disabled and elderly seemed to be headed for very rationed care and possibly euthanasia, and 5) The way it is written, most companies will dump their employees into the public health care plan because it will be too costly to keep private health insurance.

After calling one of my senators, Bill Nelson (D-FL), and asking his office when he was holding a Town Hall meeting, I was asked for my name, address, and phone number so that I could possibly attend if he hosts a Town Hall. Shocked that my senator might not be having a Town Hall, considering the biggest change to Health Care is being considered when Congress returns in September, I decided to conduct an unscientific but fair poll.

Senators from Blue States and Red States were called, picked randomly, and asked whether they were having a regular, in-person Town Hall meeting, a phone conference Town Hall meeting, or were unsure because plans had not been finalized in that regard yet.

Perhaps due to the number of people who have shown up recently to Town Halls and vociferously announced their opinions to their Representatives, some senators’ plans had not been finalized, and a few spokespeople did not return calls by press time.

Health care reform has been a very hot topic among constituents in a number of states. Health care listening sessions are going to be held across the state of North Dakota, said Chris Gaddie, spokesperson for Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND). The ‘health care listening sessions’ will be held in person, not via phone, Gaddie said.

A couple states over, in Idaho, Sen. Mike Crapo (R) has gotten an earful on Health Care Reform from his constituents. “He’s certainly heard loud and clear” what most constituents want, and it’s not the public option, said Lindsay Nothern, Sen. Crapo’s spokesperson.   He added that Sen. Crapo would be available for this recess. During last month’s Town Hall conference call, almost the whole call was on health care, Nothern noted.

As the Senate’s break begins and some Town Halls are held (or not held), it will be interesting to see how senators and representatives alike handle hearing from their constituents. And since the White House is handing out advice on the best way to handle Town Halls, I expect that the break — is going to be a hot one.

Video Source: YouTube

Cross-posted at http://race42012.com