By Mark Fischenich
MANKATO — Congressman Tim Walz met with a half-dozen people in Rochester on Tuesday who talked about how America’s existing health care system isn’t working — and he’ll do the same in Mankato today.
But opponents of Democratic health care reform proposals are going to get their chance to speak out, too. The date and location of a town hall meeting hasn’t been set, but it will probably be soon.
“We’re still working out the details,” said Walz Press Secretary Sara Severs. “... It is likely to happen next week.”
There have been repeated calls for a public forum from people skeptical of the Democratic proposals, which are to be finalized in the weeks or months following the August congressional recess. President Barack Obama and Democratic leaders are struggling to develop an affordable plan to rein in the rapid increase in health care costs and provide coverage for an estimated 47 million uninsured Americans.
Opponents are concerned about the potential for tax increases and escalating federal deficits and worry that increased federal involvement in the health care system will reduce individual patient choice and quality of care. There have also been unsubstantiated claims by opponents that the plans promote taxpayer funded abortions and euthanasia through government “death panels.”
The meeting in Rochester and today’s meeting in Mankato are an attempt to allow average residents of the 1st District to talk in-depth about their difficulties with the current insurance system. For instance, the Mankato meeting is being hosted by Melaine Zeigler.
Zeigler has primary immunodeficiency disease, a genetic disorder she was born with that leaves her with an immune system that’s only partially functioning. The drug therapy she needs to avoid constant illness costs $6,000 a month, and she suspects her husband was laid off because of the impact her condition was having on his former employer’s insurance costs.
The Rochester meeting included a woman who’s son couldn’t get insurance because of a pre-existing liver condition and was later refused a transplant because of his lack of insurance. He died at age 27.
The participants at both meetings were selected by Walz’s staff from a list of people who had contacted his office.
“These were folks who had come to us and told us their story and wanted to share it with their congressman,” Severs said.
The meetings do more than reinforce the need for reform, she said. They also give Walz a chance to ask questions and to use their stories to judge whether or not proposed reform legislation would solve similar problems in the future.
As for the public town hall meeting, Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Tony Sutton said people can probably thank the GOP.
“I think we’re going to take some credit for goading him (into scheduling an open forum),” Sutton said. “We’re pleased to hear he’s going to start listening to his constituents.”
Walz officials noted that he has held more than 30 public forums during his time in Congress and has taken numerous questions and comments on controversial topics.
Severs said Walz hopes the meeting can be televised live so that people across the district can watch but the logistics involved in making that happen are still being studied.
