Recalling his experiences during the August Congressional recess, U.S. Representative Mike Ross, D-Ar., asked listeners in a “phonehall” town hall forum Thursday to “get involved” in the healthcare debate.
“Get involved in this debate whether you support or oppose healthcare reform,” Ross said.
Ross and other members of the Democrat “Blue Dog Coalition” have begun to feel pressure from other Democrats in Congress for their argument that the healthcare reform process should be slowed to ensure certain principles, which Ross repeated Thursday at the beginning of the live call-in question and answer session.
The Associated Press reported Friday that U.S. Representative Pete Stark, D-Calif., chairman of the House tax subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee, called the Blue Dogs “brain dead” and accussed them of being controlled by insurance company interests.
But, Ross was pointed Thursday night in repeating that he does not favor any single-payer government option, and that the debate is not about healthcare as a concept so much as it is about insurance accessiblity.
That lead to two of the most pointed questions of the night:
Charles in Hot Springs: You’re our representative; if your constituents are opposed to cap and trade, Employee Free Choice Act, government-run healthcare, are you going to yield to the process of Washington and House leadership or vote like we want you to?
Ross: “I voted no on cap and trade. I put the brakes on healthcare reform by standing up to President Obama and Speaker Pelosi; and, I do not support the Employee Free Choice Act.”
John in Magnolia: I think one of the things that needs to be addressed is tort reform. Why can’t we have a system like the one thing I agree with Europeans; if you sue somebody and you lose, you pay for everything, both sides?
Ross: “I do not support single-payer, government-run healthcare, period. I’m not entirely sure about a public option, yet... I think tort reform has to be on the table. There are tort reform laws in all 50 states, now. The choice we need to make is if we want to scrap them and have a federal tort reform law.”
Tom in Hot Springs: Where does the public go to get a copy of this bill?
Ross: “Whatever happens to be in the final bill, 90 percent is not going to be what’s in HB3200; it’s going to be what comes from the Senate Finance Committee.”
Ross Quick Fact: To find the text of House Bill 3200, go to ross.house.gov/health care on the web for a direct link.
William in Nashville: Why do we need healthcare reform when we have huge budget deficits?
Ross: “Spending has been out of control for the last nine years... The reality is we can never get the budget balanced again until we get healthcare costs in control.”
Ross Quick Fact: Budget “earmarks” equal one percent of the federal budget. Foreign aid equals one percent of the federal budget.
