Oregonians flock to town halls on health care
COTTAGE GROVE, Ore - The debate over health care has turned ugly at town hall meetings across the nation; however, in Cottage Grove Wednesday, the crowd stayed under control.
The meeting was originally supposed to take place inside the Cottage Grove Community Center. More than double capacity showed up, so they moved it outside.
The main concerns voiced at this meeting included health care for the elderly, health care for the unemployed, and questions about how the plan will be paid for.
"The President has made a pledge that it's going to be paid for," said Congressman Peter DeFazio. "How it will be paid for is not yet clear."
DeFazio did his best to explain the one-thousand page Health Care Reform Bill. Some people KVAL talked to called the bill "confusing."
"It's so big and so broad," said resident J.J. Kleinsmith about the bill. "Nobody, not even DeFazio I'm sure knows all the intricacies on it and they're going to vote on it."
DeFazio says only legal citizens without insurance would be eligible for the plan.
He would not say if he will vote on the bill. He says it will likely be revised and he will decide on the final version.
Though this crowd of Oregonians came together peacefully Wednesday to voice their concerns to Congress, the still left divided on the issue.
Congressman Peter DeFazio's list of myths surrounding America's Affordable Health Choices Act can be found here: http://www.defazio.house.gov/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=508
The Congressional Republican's take on health care can be found here: http://www.gop.gov/solutions/healthcare/resources
