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Posted by: Dan McGrath

8/14/2009

Health Care Rally at Rep. McCollum's St. Paul Office 8/14/09

Constituents Take the Health Care Debate to their Representatives

On the morning of August 14^th, hundreds of constituents concerned about health care reform proposals that are rocketing through Congress simultaneously converged on the local offices of each member of Minnesota’s congressional delegation. They took their rallies and turned them into impromptu town hall meetings for those representatives that have been avoiding a public forum with their constituents on health care.

The loosely organized multi-site event was conceived by the Tea Party Patriots. Minnesota Majority pitched in by notifying our members of the events and by all reports, they were well attended.

70 or so people packed into Rep. Betty McCollum’s St. Paul district office (see video). She wasn’t there, but her spokesperson said Rep. McCollum is supporting HR3200, the health care reform bill that’s being referred to as Obamacare. Needless to say, the crowd wasn’t too pleased to hear that.

Police were reportedly called to Ellison’s office while the rally there was taking place. Witnesses said a supporter of the health care bill got out of hand in confronting the citizens who showed up to express their concerns about the bill. He was intimidating the attendees and police reportedly ordered him to back off. No physical confrontations were reported.

Reports from the 7^th district, where Rep. Peterson maintains several local offices due to the geographic size of the district were good turn out at the offices as well as the town hall meeting that Peterson announced last-minute.

More public forums on health care reform are coming up soon in several districts.

Take Action: Contact your elected officials today and let them know what you think about the current proposals for health care reform.

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Re: Hundreds Rally Against “Obamacare” at Congressional Offices Across Minnesota

By Dianne G on 9/22/2009

Many things such as increased labor costs, resistance of consumers to managed care restrictions, the aging of the population, unhealthy lifestyles, a growing prevalence of high-cost diseases, lack of information technology, administrative costs and defensive medicine contributes to increase of health care costs. According to recent findings, just over half of the $2 trillion of health care costs in the US each year is due to wasteful practices. The health care costs that are indicated to be wasteful are behavioral, clinical, and procedural – what that means is that behavioral patterns could be addressed by someone other than a doctor, clinics order unnecessary tests, and health insurance companies might be padding their bills. The biggest cause of people needing an extra cash advance for medical care is overtesting – unnecessary procedures so the physician can cover himself legally, or just gouge patients for cash. Doctors padding bills – no wonder health care costs drive people to needing a personal loan for a simple check up. http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/08/11/healthcare-dollars-drain/

Re: Hundreds Rally Against “Obamacare” at Congressional Offices Across Minnesota

By chansen on 9/22/2009

What a lot of garbage. Let's stop the bickering and get the health care legislation passed. There are millions of uninsured who are waiting for legislation that shows you care more about helping another than not reaching across the aisle and compromising on this historic need in our nation. Both parties seem to feel their is no room for compromise but as a social security and medicare recipient, my experience shows that a public option is the only way--not legislation dictated by the big insurance companies. We have already seen the results of the horrendous boondogle prescription drug bill passed by Congress which was written by the drug companies. Let's work together and pass a bill that will meet the needs of the people--not the needs of the insurance companies.

Re: Hundreds Rally Against “Obamacare” at Congressional Offices Across Minnesota

By Carl Carlson on 9/25/2009

you people are weird, in the minority (Thank God!), and I will do all in my lifetime powerto keep you from taking politcal power. You are equivilant to the Taliban, Facists, Skinheads, Nazi's, and other neo-cons. You people need to go back to Eisenhower and the true conservative base which I grew up with - "Beware the Military-Industrial complex". You are treading on sacred American traditions, and need to be called to account!

Re: Hundreds Rally Against “Obamacare” at Congressional Offices Across Minnesota

By steve gilbertson on 9/25/2009

Our government is currently responsible for administrating Medicare, Medicaid, and our social security- all of which are in financial trouble. They have completely plundered social securiity. We would crazy to belive that they could manage something far more complicated. Our Health care and its delivery is one of the best in the world. We must make every effort to cover as many citizens as is possible, but handing this over to the government will not accomplish that. the most effective thing that could be done would be to address those things that are driving the cost up so quickly. Tort reform, malpractice/over treatment for fear of a malpractice suit. Mandates, addressing these and others will significanly lower the cost while maintaining the quality and allow millions more coverage.The free market system will offer the best health care in the world - that is why we have the best now!! It is the governments poor decisions, mandates, and special intrest groups influence that are crushing our current system, and making it unaffodable.

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