Kagen hears from health care supporters

Citizen Action volunteers collected more than 21-thousand signatures of 8th district residents in support of the president's plan to rework the health care system. They were hand delivered to Congressman Steve Kagen.

"I think that percentage at 21 thousand is a large enough number that it shows very broad-based support for Health care reform in Northeast Wisconsin," said Robert Kraig, program director for Citizen Action.

The presentation in Kagen's office was a staged event they say to focus the attention away from loud critics and back to overhauling the system. Kagen says he's received a lot of feedback on the subject.

"Some have said they want single payer, some said no government at all and so what I’m looking to do is guarantee you have access to the care you need, when you need it and at a price you can afford," said Kagen from his 8th District Green Bay office.

The latest nationwide Gallup Poll suggests the debate is a close one. Thirty-nine percent are asking their representatives to vote against the health care reform being discussed, 37 percent want them to for it, while 24 percent have no opinion.

Those delivering petitions to Kagen also vary in reasons they are pushing for reform.

"My glaucoma is going untreated because I cannot get health insurance because of my history of stroke," stated Luana Mathews.
"A public option has to be included because it's going to force competition," added Cecilia Turriff.

Brown County republican chairman Vern Krawczyk opposes socializing healthcare, but admits some changes could be achieved with democrats and republicans working together.

"Both sides will be better off and there are things that should be taken care of in the system but not a destruction of the system," said Krawczyk.

Congressman Kagen expects the House to take the three bills under consideration right now and meld it into one by mid October. Both sides say when they know for sure what's in and what's out of the plan they will be able to better debate the issues.