Benton Courier - GOP health care forum gets lively

The first “Listening to Arkansas” town hall panel focusing on national health care reform took place in Benton Saturday afternoon and drew a standing-room-only crowd at Saline County Republican Party headquarters.
Various views were aired, but the majority of those present appeared to fear the current plan proposed by the Obama administration.
State Rep. Ann Clemmer, R-Salem community, cited concerns about the price tag that will be attached to any program.
“We don’t have a clue what the program will cost,” she said as she and other state legislators shared their views in the event.
Also participating were Rep. Dan Greenberg, who represents the northern portion of Saline County, and Rep. Ed Garner of Maumelle.
Doyle Webb of Benton, who heads the state Republican Party, moderated the event, and David McCoy, chairman of the local party, welcomed those in attendance.
Greenberg told the group that he’s not convinced that the current health care system needs changing. He pointed out that there reportedly are 46 million people in the country without health insurance, but he doesn’t see this as a critical issue because “10 million are illegal aliens, 17 million have incomes above $50,000 per year and 14 million are on Medicare.”
He noted that this leaves “8 million hard-core uninsured people” but said they can receive health care at hospital emergency rooms.
“This is not a national crisis,” he contended, saying it’s an “over-reaction” similar to deciding to amputate a leg because of a broken toe.
Greenberg is in his second term in the Arkansas House of Representatives. He has announced he will seek the Senate District 22 seat currently held by Democrat Shane Broadway of Bryant, who will be term-limited at the end of 2010.
Citing a recent poll in which many claim to be satisfied with the status quo, Clemmer also indicated she isn’t convinced of the need for health-care reform.
According to the poll Clemmer mentioned, 86 percent of the respondents rated their health care as “good to excellent.”
“If people are happy with their insurance for the most part, why change it?” she asked.
Greenberg contends that the public option of the proposed Obama program would punish taxpayers unfairly.
Competition is a key factor in any plan that ultimately will be chosen, the panelists said, noting that they favor shopping for insurance across state lines.
Garner encouraged citizens to let their feelings be known on this issue, particularly noting that there is no reason to rush any plan through Congress.
“Keep up the pressure” on Washington, he urged.
“There’s chaos in Washington, but right now you really are in control,” he said.
Sharing their views were several area residents as well as residents of other areas.
Roger Glover, a retired Methodist minister, expressed his concern about the effect a government-operated health-care program would have on senior citizens.
He contended, however, that “society should provide at least minimal health care for all of its citizens,” but said the country shouldn’t be bankrupt with “a typical government intervention.”
Glover recommended modeling a program along the lines of the Christian clinic movement, saying he took part in the organization of such a clinic at Dardanelle.
Such programs would “not threaten to destabilize the ... medical delivery system now in place,” he said.
Marvin Lessman, an attorney and insurance agent, said “portability” is a key factor in any plan. “The important thing is competition.
Jean Bullard of Hot Springs Village said she has “read the Constitution of the United States and cannot find anything that says we’re entitled to health care.”
“The government has the right to use common sense,” she said.
Bullard called the administration’s proposed plan
“1100 pages of garbage” and urged “everyone to encourage their congressmen to vote it down.”
Barbara Gordon, another Saline County resident, said any system put in place should give consumers the power to manage their own health care. Currently, she said, patients are powerless regarding health-care costs.
“Patients need to realize they can deny any routine tests,” she said.
Johnny Rhodus of Clinton said he’s a small-business owner who is greatly concerned about the impact health-care reform will have on jobs.
“There are too many uneducated people in Washington telling us what to do,” he said. “I want some truck drivers in there ... “
Bob Buchanan of North Little Rock, who identified himself as a “retired copy editor for the old Gazette,” urged people to “be careful what you ask for” in regard to purchasing insurance from companies in other states.

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