Health care reform is still a hot topic when it comes to congressional town hall meetings.
Active Tea Party members and Republican supporters asked Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., questions at his town hall meeting Wednesday night at the Moore-Norman Technology Center.
“Congressman Cole likes to get out into the district and find out what people are concerned about and their views,” said Lisa Head, a caseworker for Cole.
The biggest topic of questions for the 210 citizens in attendance was the health-care reform bill.
Cole said there were bipartisan portions of the health-care reform bill, including extending insurance to children until the age of 26 and the limits restrictions on pre-existing conditions.
“The intensity of opposition is much greater than the intensity of support [for the health care bill],” Cole said.
He said that although 17 percent of American wealth is spent on health care, he does not think the quality of health care has increased comparably. He said the democrats were focused on access for health care, but republicans focused on the cost.
“Americans should take personal responsibility,” Cole said speaking on personal health. “We think we can show up, take a pill and it’ll take care of decades of poor eating, but it won’t.”
The crowd cheered loudly when Cole emphasized his conservative ideals.
“The Oklahoma delegation is the most conservative house delegation,” Cole said.
Many in the audience stated their concern for where the future of the U.S. under the leadership of President Barack Obama’s administration.
Cole said he votes against Obama on many things and is leading the country in the wrong direction. Cole disagreed with one citizen’s call to impeach Obama. He said he does not think Obama is a criminal.
Cole emphasized how a smaller government is better.
“The extension of governmental control always leads to danger,” Cole said.
Martha Mullins, who is from Norman and volunteers for the Republican party, said she wanted to hear what Cole had to say and how she was being represented in Congress.
“The best thing that was brought up is American people as a whole are smart and know what is best for this country,” Mullins said.
Pam Dotson from Norman said she heard about the event from Cole’s mailing list.
“He covered much more than I ever dreamed he would be able to cover,” Dotson said. “He gave time, attention and thought to answer the best he could.”
Head said Cole enjoys the town hall events so that the people he represents can know he is a real person and shares the same conservative values.
Norman’s meeting is Cole’s second of 10 town hall meetings throughout March and April to answer questions and reduce concerns about federal legislation.
Cole represents 750,000 people in Oklahoma. He holds three series of town hall meetings each year. The next town hall meeting will be next Thursday in Lawton.
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Terminate_Damnation 2 years, 1 month ago
Goodness, at the very least Tom Cole didn't allude that Obama is some sort of criminal. Despite the fact I disagree with Cole on probably everything, I'm at least encouraged he didn't take the Tea Party route at this town hall. Though I wasn't there to hear everything that was said.
ston9794 2 years, 1 month ago
"“Americans should take personal responsibility,” Cole said speaking on personal health. “We think we can show up, take a pill and it’ll take care of decades of poor eating, but it won’t.”"
You got type-I diabetes?? Well maybe you shouldn't have been so lazy and been born with a defective pancreas! The bootstraps argument is basically the only thing that Conservatives have left to argue against health care reform, and it's not sound logic.