Local town hall meeting to be held to discuss health care reform
By
Ray Gomez
Story Created:
Aug 12, 2009
Story Updated:
Aug 18, 2009
Many Americans have been attending town hall meetings voicing their concerns and opposition to health care reform. Congressman Henry Cuellar was at a news conference today speaking about the issue.
"What we are talking about is giving people who don't have health insurance options."
“But that’s what Obama wants."
"No it’s not what Obama wants.”
“Yes, it is."
According to a recent Gallup Poll 49 percent of Americans disapprove of the way President Barack Obama is handling health care reform.
Here at home, Congressman Henry Cuellar is endorsing the President's plan and answering questions about it.
According to Cuellar, 267 thousand people in his district have no coverage, some due to losing their jobs.
"Premiums have gone up since 2000 about one hundred percent. Co-pays have gone up. Everybody that has insurance knows what’s happening."
Meanwhile three committees in Congress are looking at proposals, like expanding Medicare, providing tax credit for small businesses and helping people that already have insurance.
"There’s been over 650 people that had filed personal bankruptcy in my congressional district because of this out of cost medical expenses."
"This clinic serves more than 30 thousand people all in need of health insurance. Doctors hope with new health care reform they don't have to struggle looking for services."
"Everyday I see patients with no insurance. We are able to provide primary services but patients in general need all type of services," and at Gateway Community Health Clinic demand for free health care is growing, so much that the clinic had to stop proving services to the elderly for a year.
"There’s is an increase demand especially with the situation that we are getting more patients and more demand for our services."
Demand is growing so fast that many patients wind up on a waiting list, something opponents of the President's plan say we could see more often, while others say health care reform will solve this.
The largest organization that represents people 50 years and older will host a town hall meeting on health care reform. AARP will talk about fixing health care and a panel will present services for older adults in Laredo.
The town hall meeting is Thursday from nine in the morning till noon at the public library.
You have indicated this comment should be removed.
The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .
Alice White said on Tuesday, Aug 25 at 4:02 AM
Will there be a town hall meeting in Guadalupe County. How about the Seguin Silver Center as a location. We all have questions on this proposition and I believe our Seniors are the most concerned.Thank you, Alice
28218756Russell said on Sunday, Aug 16 at 2:58 PM
It has come clear that Cuellar only cares about Laredo.. even though through gerrymandering more than half his constituents live near San Antonio. Rest assured, this will be your last term if you don't get your backside up to Wilson Co! Check your demographics.. you know I'm right. We deserve to be heard too!! Down with Obama and his National Socialist takeover!
278378371stepforwards3stepsback said on Thursday, Aug 13 at 6:00 PM
Texan, I don't know if your right wing or left. However, you sound angry and bitter. What I do know is that President Obama is the best thing for Americas problems at this moment. Rush, Fox News, Hannity, Coulter, Beck, Rove and O'rielly are only proveyors of fear. Republicans had all the chance to make things right.....they have failed. This is why they were voted out of political power. Democrats are the best individuals on earth. They stand for everything godly.
27717811Texan said on Thursday, Aug 13 at 5:44 PM
1stepforward3stepsback, you are correct that health care is for all. You are also correct that its time to take care of the health care problems. You are VERY wrong in saying that President Obama is the best and that the Democrats are near keepers of our brothers. Democrats prefer control all of the aspects of our lives. If Obama was the best, why is he asking US citizens to turn in fellow citizens who appose him? This is just like the Patron System and the Mafia!
27717332Texasn said on Thursday, Aug 13 at 5:38 PM
If the current administration can't properly handle and account for the funds that have already been committed through their Stimulus Bill that has not providing any new jobs to date, why should we believe that they know best how to handle the Health Care industry? It will only cost us more TRILLIONS of dollars. Our great-grandchildren can not be strapped with any more debt created by this administration!!
27717126Texan said on Thursday, Aug 13 at 5:35 PM
Gov. Huckabee's idea of trying some specific fixes a few at a time, and ditching those that don't work is a much better plan. Once the Health Care industry is in the hands of the federal government, it will never be back in the hands of it's citizens.
27717031Texan said on Thursday, Aug 13 at 5:32 PM
The third point is that these bills are proving that this current administration is pro-death. These bills are including provisions to have government funded abortions, and to fund doctors to provide required "End of Life" councelling. End of life discussions should be between an individual and his clergy, his family, and his attorney. Not his doctor, and definitely not the federal government!
27716939Texan said on Thursday, Aug 13 at 5:26 PM
In Representative Cuellars noticible absence, he did have a staffer pass out a "Pro Health Care Reform Plan" flier. It's last paragraph states that the legislation is "fully paid for". Half of the bill will be paid for by making the Medicare and Medicaid programs more efficient (the federal government should be doing this even without this bill), and the other have through a surtax on the income of the wealthiest individuals. These "wealthiest individuals" are already heavily taxed.
27716674Texan said on Thursday, Aug 13 at 5:12 PM
A second point - all of the current plans written by the House and Senate will end up in a federal government run health care system - ie - Socialized Medicine. This does not work in any other country in the world, and will not work in the United States. If our government has not been able to properly manage Medicare and Medicaid, how con they think they can better manage the entire health care system?
27716176Texan said on Thursday, Aug 13 at 5:09 PM
I attempted to make several points, but was cut off myself by one of the hecklers. First, the health care system, although best in the world, needs reform. Costs are too high, insurance premiums are rising all the time, and too there are way too many lawsuits causing insurance and medical costs to rise. The abuses of the curernt system can be fixed without the goverment taking over the industry as they have with our auto industry.
27716074Texan said on Thursday, Aug 13 at 5:06 PM
I attended town hall meeting held by AARP. I was obvious from their initial speech and their answers to the audiance's questions that the organization is pro-"health care reform plan". Whether they are for or against the existing bills or not may be debatable, but they will support a major health care reform plan. It was also obvious that most of the attendees were against a major health care reform plan - especially any that the House or Senate have produced to-date.
277159231stepforward3stepsback said on Thursday, Aug 13 at 3:54 PM
President Obama is doing what is right for America. Fox News faithful have displayed some wicked hate towards one of our finest presidents. Shame is somehting right wing extremist fringe have no understanding of. President Obama is the deciderer and will do what he wants, when he wants. Why? Because he is our elected President of the United States of America.
27712434JC Justus said on Thursday, Aug 13 at 3:11 PM
Henry C., do what is really right and vote down this Obama Health Reform ...... I know its good for this Democratic Stronghold, (Your stomping grounds), but it is not good for the country! We have been TAXED enough, by the Federal Government and you know that sooner or later we are all going to pay if this "Reform" is passed. Its not the "Rich Guys" who will pay. Thats PURE OBAMA SPIN and you know it! Remember Henry, you represent all of us here not just Democrats!
27710246JC Justus said on Thursday, Aug 13 at 3:02 PM
This is one "HOT" Topic and not everyone is going to agree. Socialized medicine is wrong, wrong, wrong! The Government has no business getting into the insurance business; number one and number two; Uncle Sam shouldn't be telling people what level of severity of illness they may have and when, where, and how its going to be treated! Remember, NOTHING IS FREE! I don't trust OBAMANOMICS! I promise you we ALL WILL PAY for his HEALTH REFORM!
277097321stepforward3stepsback said on Wednesday, Aug 12 at 10:14 PM
It's high time we took care of this issue. President Obama is the best. Democrats are near keepers of our brothers. Health care for all. It's the Godly thing to do.
27676402Add a comment
Most Popular