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<< Previous   of   Next >> Mark Mulligan / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Chris Wheeler (right) of Edmonds asks a question during a town hall meeting about health care reform held by Rep. Jay Inslee at Edmonds-Woodway High School gymnasium on Sunday. Mark Mulligan / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Participants fill out questions at Sunday’s town hall meeting on health care reform at Edmonds-Woodway High School.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, August 31, 2009 Healthy debate on health care at Inslee's forum in Edmonds The congressman gets an earful from both sides at town hall meeting By Jerry Cornfield Herald Writer EDMONDS — Dee Hoffman of Edmonds didn't show up at Rep. Jay Inslee's health care town hall Sunday because she wants to see change for herself. She was there for her family. “I have Medicare and it's good for me. But I have children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and they are not being served well by a wealthy nation like us,” said the 79-year-old woman inside Edmonds-Woodway High School. Nearby, Betsy Pressnall of Kirkland sat holding a sign declaring “Kill Obama Care.” She came to remind Inslee, a Democrat, there continues to be strong opposition to his party's proposed reforms. “Our little voices are the ones that have brought (President Barack) Obama's health care to its knees. We're not going to win but it will be successful if we can keep government out of it,” she said. Such was the dichotomy of reasons and emotions of the 1,200 people who filled two sets of bleachers and hundreds of folding chairs on the floor of the sweltering gymnasium. They've been closely following the national debate and wanted to share their passions and beliefs Sunday with someone who will be voting on it when Congress reconvenes after Labor Day. Sunday's nearly two-hour town hall mirrored in form and content the forums held across the country this month by other members of Congress. There were displays of verbal unruliness inside. However, outside there were no demonstrations like those before the Aug. 12 event at Everett Memorial Stadium hosted by Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash. Inslee, D-Wash., began by outlining aspects of reform proposals in the House of which he's been in the thick of negotiations. He spent a few minutes on his efforts to include language to improve Medicare reimbursements for doctors in this state. Some of the people attending had specific questions, like why tort reform is not part of any proposal, what happens if someone is deemed ineligible for coverage by a private insurer, and how will a person's privacy be fully protected from the government under a publicly-run insurance program. Others rose merely to make comments for or against the idea of reform. Some of the loudest reaction came with every mention of creating a government-sponsored insurance program known as the “public option.” Inslee called a public option “fundamental.” He said it would help increase competition and lead to lower costs of insurance coverage. “I will fight for it,” he said, eliciting cheers and boos. At different times Sunday, opponents interrupted Inslee's comments, and once booed loud enough that he stopped speaking. “I'm not done yet,” Inslee said. “For those trying to shout me down, I won't be intimidated.” To try to ensure fairness, Inslee's staff set up separate boxes for questions from supporters, opponents and those undecided on health care reform. Names were randomly chosen in groups of three — one from each box. As a result, nearly every speaker evoked response from one constituency or another. Sandy Ripley of Shoreline drew one of the loudest cheers when she asked if Inslee and the rest of Congress will be part of the program they are creating. Ripley shook her head in disbelief when Inslee said the proposed coverage is the same that lawmakers have. “Most people know Congress will not be subject to it. Every person who votes for this bill should be in it,” she said. Chris Wheeler of Edmonds said she'd been watching the town halls this month and heard a lot of fear and misunderstanding among the speakers. She wondered how the divisive debate may play out. “Where do we go from here? How do we deal with it?” she said. Inslee responded that he didn't “know the end of this drama,” but believed reform will occur. “There's a lot of work to be done,” he said. Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Log in or register to post new comment | Log out Freedom of Choice Trial lawyers won't let tort reform be part of the solution. Why are progressives okay with that? 10+ million Americans, without insurance but who pay their own way (including catastrophic) will be coerced into paying into a system they don't want. Why are progressives against freedom of choice? Government funded abortion is part of (but not specifically stated) the plan as "womens health care". Why not have an opt-in provision on their tax return that allows health plan recipients to provide extra money specifically for that purpose if they believe in abortion? It's available for public campaign contributions. Why are progressives against freedom to opt out of funding abortion? Congress AND unionized government employees are exempt from HR 3200 and expect it to soon include tribes. Why are progressives allowing elitism in this bill? HR 3200 not only increases deficit spending of $1.3 TRILLION in the first 10 years, but increases it over $5 TRILLION the second 10 years (or did you forget the cost curve sweeps upward?). With America already over $100 TRILLION in unfunded obligations, how soon before the economic collapse implodes government run health care, Medicare, Medicaoid, Social Security, pensions, insurance companies, real estate, and every other form of investment in the US? It may even happen before 2014 when government run health care would start (taxes start 2 years earlier). I've noticed in townhalls, the proponents talk about what they need, while the opponents talk about broader fairness issues. Note the opening example is of a grandmother talking about "being served" and what her grandchildren would get. Randy Dutton | Sep 2, 2009 1:28 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal More choice of plans? In response to Doug Deaver, I just want to point out that there's a problem with allowing everyone to choose a plan that just meets their age- or gender- or health-specific needs, such as taking out prenatal care. Of course everyone just wants to pay for the stuff they think they need, that sounds sensible. But none of us know what kind of care we're going to need. Twenty five year olds get cancer. 50 year olds get Alzheimer's. People of all ages get rare diseases. Having a broad insurance pool that everyone pays into, younger and older, healthier and sicker, men and women, means that there's more money in there to take care of people when they need care, which we all are going to need. That's the fundamental problem with the free market idea of tailoring health plans to each individual consumer's current needs. Harris Meyer | Aug 31, 2009 8:59 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal townhalls I attended the Edmonds townhall Sunday and really liked the way the event went. I only heard one heckler that was truly outrageous and he was shouting __ __ __ __ conservatives! He was not well recieved by most in attendance.I would say the crowd was 60/40 against the bill, which is saying something for this area. I have a very speacal interest in this issue since I have cancer and need health care to stay alive and with my faimly. I don't think anyone's mind was changed by this townhall but I do think if we had more towmhalls like this our country would be a better place. Both sides need access to our representives so they can see that there are real people out here who disagree with the hard left ideas that seem to be moving into our politics. After seeing Mr.Inslee and listening to him I think he really wants what is best for his constituants, I really question whether he is really listening to what all of us are saying. We all want health care reform, its just what kind of reform. I would rather give more choice through free market ideas that would include, making a greater variety of plans available. Like my friend who is retired and has to have a plan with prenatal care on it.?? Tort reform. To me that means limits on what you can get. Yes, how do you put a price on a life but will 10 billion dollars really make you feel better or just make all of us pay more.We need to STOP lawsuits that have no merit.Right now doctors will get out of them in court because they have no merit but they still have to pay to defend themselves, that costs us.Buying across state lines. Why not? As a cancer patient I can go after my insurance provider if I feel and can prove they did not pay for what I needed, will I have that same ability with the goverment? To end I would like to say thank you to Jay Inslee for having the guts to come out and face all of us, we might not agree but at least he heard what was said, now will he listen. doug deaver | Aug 31, 2009 7:54 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal (No heading) DUH, Inslee is pro Public Option, we here in his district voted for him. The majority, who did vote for Inslee, are glad that he is representing OUR views rather than those of the Republicans who lost the election free and fair. Up on the Snohomish County Republicans website, they are telling people in Snohomish to come to the Edmonds event - Snohomish is NOT part of Inslees district. I spent over $5,000 out of my own pocket getting my 2 friends teeth fixed. How is someone supposed to make a positive impression without teeth. I did it because it broke my heart. I also gave a guy a years free rent so that he could fix his teeth. I know a ton of people who dont have appropriate teeth and I cant stand it, I HATE YOU CONSERVATIVES, JESUS PLEASE BURN ALL CONSERVATIVES ALIVE FOREVER - IMPRECATORY PRAYER COMING AT YOU - AND MINE WORK!!!! AMEN. You pay the insurance company $10,000s of dollars for decade after decade and then go bankrupt even with insurance - if they even honor your claim. Insurance companies spend $9,000 in court to avoid paying $10,000 in claims and they do it 100 times for $100,000 profit - which all goes to more lawyers to deny more claims. DOWN WITH BI-PARTISANSHIP!!!!!!!!!! Orion Hughes | Aug 31, 2009 6:05 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Inslee Town Hall Meeting - Edmonds I attended the Town Hall Meeting in Edmonds hosted by Jay Inslee on August 31. I am extremely disappointed in Jay's refusal to listen to, consider and value each of his constituent’s views. Jay came to the meeting with his mind made up. Jay did not want to hear any view which differed from his own. Jay started the meeting indicating the meeting was Democracy in Action. This statement is simply not true. There is no democracy when your voice falls on deaf ears. Why bother to hold meetings when Jay knew full well that nothing would alter his course of action in congress. This Town Hall was not democracy - it was merely a waste of his concerned constituent’s time. Gypsie Lea | Aug 31, 2009 10:45 am | 1 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Pinkslip for Inslee Too bad Inslee has closed his ears to bi-partinship. The deonmcrats will push through a health care/insurance bill that will both denegrate our health care system and be in violation of our freedoms and rights afforded under the Constitution. The proccess that they will use is un-Constitutional, the reconciliation process. This will bring about a pinkslip for him. Too bad he will not lose his health insurance when he receives his pinkslip from the voters. hank None | Aug 31, 2009 2:48 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal (No heading) Jay Inslee did a masterful job handling a few angry hecklers while presenting thoughtful information on healthcare reform. It was an excellent town hall meeting, and I thank Congressperson Inslee for supporting real healthcare reform. charles primm | Aug 31, 2009 12:19 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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