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Constituents support Ross’ healthcare reform August 31, 2009 - No reporter cited

Jim Pinson
Editor

Following his fifth telephone town hall meeting and roundtables across the Fourth Congressional District, Rep. Mike Ross stated that more Americans are getting involved in the democracy of their country over the issue of healthcare than any other issue in the history of this nation.

“To be a representative, you must listen to the constituents of your district,” Ross said. “Through these telephone town hall meetings, I have been listening to you, giving you the facts and letting you make up your own mind concerning healthcare.”

He reiterated that when people get involved, it makes the nation stronger. On Thursday night, over 7,500 Arkansans joining the tele-conference to discuss the healthcare issue.

Ross told citizens of the Fourth district that there were currently five health care reform proposals before the U.S. Congress and nine legislative processes before any bill reaches the desk of President Barak Obama. He also shared his core health care reform principles that would guide his vote.

Those principles include:

• If you like the health insurance you have today, you should be able to keep it and choose your own doctors.

• A government-run health care should not be forced upon anyone.

• If a government-run health care is ever forced on anyone, then the first group to receive it should be the President and members of Congress, including Ross himself.

• No federal funding for illegal immigrants or abortions.

• No rationing of care for seniors or anyone else.

• Require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions and that they should not be able to raise your premiums when you get sick.

• And finally, affordable health insurance for every American citizen, with more choices, not less, and with the peace of mind knowing you will never go without health insurance again, even when you change jobs, get laid off or get sick.

Ross once again conducted an interactive poll, while answering questions from concerned citizens.

One question was asked by William of Nashville. He asked, “Why do we need this bill now, with the debt so high right now?”

Ross acknowledged that spending was out of control and that we must slow down. “If we don’t stop the deficient spending, then we will never balance the budget until we get spending under control,” Ross said. “But, health care cost is growing two times faster than inflation.”

Ross also explained that half the population of America has socialized health care, by receiving Medicare, Medicaid, Veteran’s Insurance and AR Kids.

When asked if Ross plans to listen to the majority of Arkansans and vote their interest or toe the party line, Ross stated that he had voted ‘no’ on the Cap and Trade bill, that he was not a sponsor of the Employee Free Choice bill and that he had stood up to the President and House Speaker by putting the brakes on the health care reform bill until he had spoken to his constituents.

“I do not toe the party line,” Ross said.

At the end of the tele-conference, Ross asked if residents of the Fourth Congressional District could support a reform bill if it reflected his principles. Eighty-three percent of the 7,500 callers voted yes. Yes, they could support health care reform if it reflected his principles.

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