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Crowd jams Sen. David Vitter's health care forum in Elmwood
Constituents packed into a health care forum hosted by Sen. David Vitter today in Elmwood, where Vitter took audience questions mostly criticizing President Barack Obama's reform push and stated his own opposition to the plans."I think there are problems and issues with the health care system that need improvement," Vitter said during the forum. "I want to focus specifically on those problems, and I don't want to throw out the baby with the bath water. I completely and unalterably oppose the Obama administration plan." Vitter said Obama's reforms - creating a new government health plan option that competes with private insurers - would drive companies out of the health care business, raise costs and result in government officials making health care decisions for people. The heated subject attracted such a crowd that all the seats were full, and people stood along the back and sides of the Jefferson Parish Council chambers at the Joseph S. Yenni Building. An overflow crowd even amassed outside the doors of the building and remained there throughout the session, holding a peaceful demonstration. Vitter began the forum by encouraging people to fill all available spaces in the room and apologizing for the lack of a larger venue. He said at the end that he would provide more opportunities for people to speak out. The Republican senator read audience questions submitted on speaker sheets and repeatedly agreed with questioners who raised numerous concerns about the reforms advanced by Obama, a Democrat. Similar forums hosted by Democratic legislators around the country have prompted fiery and controversial demonstrations. The audience at the Vitter event was spirited, but not protesting against the senator. Signs people held up outside the building also aligned with Vitter's views. Vitter said the proposed reforms will drive the number of uninsured or underinsured people even higher than current problematic levels by pushing some people out of private insurance plans or cutting existing Medicare programs that are serving them well. He said current counts of uninsured Americans often are exaggerated because they include illegal immigrants and young people who choose not to acquire insurance because they view health issues as remote problems. "If there is any so-called government option," Vitter said, "I believe it will be a very uneven playing field." Instead, he said he favors allowing small businesses to band together for group insurance at better rates than they currently receive, allowing people to obtain less expensive prescription drugs from other countries and cutting down on unnecessary and costly lawsuits. "Let's start cutting costs which have no benefits," he said. Posted by: Fred 2009-08-11 |
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