Story posted Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Discussion Heats Up On Health Care Reform
U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky fields questions from the audience at the Niles Senior Center on Sunday during a discussion on health care reform.
By TOM ROBB Journal & Topics Reporter
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-9th) hosted a lively town hall meeting in Niles last Sunday, speaking to a packed house of several hundred residents about President Barack Obama's health care reform plans.
The congresswoman did not mince words to the mostly sympathetic audience, though some challenged her on recent public statements on the issue.
Painting a contrast between the president's plan and plans supported by Republicans, Schakowsky called out her neighboring Congressman Mark Kirk (R-10th) by name.
A central facet of the president's plan would see the creation of public insurance plans that would compete in an "exchange" with private insurers setting minimum standards and providing competition, Schakowsky explained.
While she was clear in her support for the public option, she said Kirk, whose district borders Schakowsky's to the north, opposes it favoring the establishment of health care co-ops Schakowsky calls "ridiculous."
Accusing Kirk of using "fear" tactics and using "false statistics," Schakowsky said, "Mark is wrong" in his position on health care.
The congresswoman found a mostly sympathetic crowd, though things did get somewhat heated when a man who said he worked in the health care insurance industry vocally challenged some of Schakowsky's ideas.
He claimed Schakowsky said the public option would put the private health insurance industry out of business, a claim immediately Schakowsky denied.
Several people in the crowd then began shouting "you tube" referring to a video of Schakowsky posted on the Internet where she discusses an interaction with a man from the insurance industry who she said feared "that a public insurance plan would put private insurance out of business." In the video Schakowsky said, "He was right."
At Sunday's town hall Schakowsky said the insurance industry is the only industry not subject to antitrust laws and needs the competition. She said the public private exchange would set minimum standards and said the goal should be wellness not profit.
She said the United States paid more for per person in healthcare than any other nation but was 37th in its delivery of care.
Several people in the audience told stories of financial hardship caused by high medical bills and fights with their insurance companies.
Schakowsky told supporters to contact her office, even if they agree, because she needs to show fellow legislators strong support for the president's plan in her district.
Kirk's press secretary was not able to immediately provide clarification on the issues raised by Schakowsky but said he would make the congressman available for an interview with the Journal in the next few days to clarify his positions.
Speak Out!
Comments are edited first by Journal staff before running in print and appearing online.