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.
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