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Uploaded: Thursday, September 3, 2009, 1:19 PM
Passionate boos, cheers mark Eshoo meeting
Congresswoman holds health care town hall at Palo Alto high school
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by Barbara Wood
Palo Alto Online Staff
A boisterous crowd of nearly 1,000 people turned out Wednesday for the 14th Congressional District's first face-to-face town hall meeting on health care, with most of them voicing support for, or opposition against, the congresswoman's proposals.
Before the meeting, held Wednesday night at Gunn High School in Palo Alto, a long line of people patiently waited outside the 950-seat Spangenberg Theater. Opponents and proponents alike of health care reform held aloft signs and American flags.
"Don't Mess With Our Health Care -- Vote No on Obamacare" one sign read.
"M.D.'s will have to take the Hypocrite Oath with Obamacare," read another.
At the other end of the spectrum were the Raging Grannies.
"Grannies love Social Security -- A Government Program" read one of their signs.
The Grannies accentuated their message with songs, including, "My Eyes Have Seen the Wonders of a Single Payer Plan."
Protesters were required to leave large signs outside the auditorium.
As is her custom, Eshoo answered written questions submitted by the audience. When boos and jeers greeted some of Eshoo's statements, other audience members attempted to drown them out with applause. But Eshoo did not lose her cool, despite shouts and interruptions.
"You are all -- every one, whether you booed or cheered -- you are all welcome," she said.
Eshoo, who represents Mountain view, helped write one of the health care bills currently under consideration. Congress will reconvene next week to continue the debate on overhauling the health care system.
The intense interest in the topic was clear in the number of questions submitted. Eshoo estimated she did not get to at least 175 questions that had been submitted, despite going at least 20 minutes past the stated ending time of 8:30 p.m.
"I understand first hand the passions that the issue of health care brings," she said. "It touches all of us, every single one of us."
Eshoo said there are three essential features of the legislation she helped write, House of Representatives Bill 3200.
"Number one, that it be universal," she said. Proposed regulations would require that everyone have some form of health insurance or face a fine.
Two, the changes must be "fully paid for," she said, "not paid with the national credit card."
Private insurance must also be regulated, she said.
"No longer will insurance companies be able to discriminate against anyone" with preexisting conditions, or for gender, or because they are ill, she said.
"If someone loses their job -- you still get to keep your health insurance," she said. Lifetime caps on insurance payouts, which currently affect many with catastrophic illness, would not be allowed, she added.
Some in the audience questioned the need for any changes to how health care works in the country. "Why destroy the best health care system in this world for this?" asked one.
"This is not about destroying the system," Eshoo said. "It's about bringing (the uninsured) in."
Several questions focused on the costs of reform. How, one person asked, can 46.5 million currently uninsured people be added to the health care system while cutting costs?
Eshoo argued that the cost of private health insurance is already a financial burden for many, including small business owners who can't afford to insure their employees.
Eliminating inefficiencies and bringing the uninsured into a system that offers preventative care instead of much more costly emergency room care will save money, she said. Premiums will pay for the public insurance, she said.
Another questioned why the changes are being considered during a severe economic downturn. "I think that is one of the main reasons we need to do it," Eshoo said. "We will not have a full recovery in this country" without reducing the costs of health care.
Eshoo promised to respond by e-mail to every question in the six-inch-stack that remained unanswered at the end of the meeting.
The issue, she said, is far from settled.
"We have a long journey ahead of us because this is enormously complex," she said. "This bill is not set in concrete."
Palo Alto Police Department spokesman Sgt. Dan Ryan said three officers were assigned to the meeting but reported no problems, unlike at other town hall meetings convened by representatives around the country.Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by Andrea Lacy, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 3, 2009 at 2:26 pm I *love* that Anna Eshoo is convening a face-to-face town hall on healthcare, and that she's the co-author of one of the bills under discussion. Somehow, I was invited to two telephone-based town hall meetings but - one arrived on my answering machine, and the other just as I was on my way out.
Is there a written transcript of the face-to-face or telephone meetings? Will there be another meeting? According to Rep. Eshoo's website, it looks like there might be only one more, today, at 7pm in Ben Lomond.
I hope there will be more meetings. I think it's important for every community to get on the same page about health care reform - at least, be agreed on the need to change.
We don't let people starve in this country because we believe it would be uncivilized to stand back and watch another die of hunger in this wonderful, wealthy nation. We don't let our fellow citizens die for lack of medical care if they are over 65. I'm not sure why we would if they are the near-majority who are unlucky enough not to have a healthcare benefit at their workplace.
Andrea
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Posted by Seer, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 3, 2009 at 4:08 pm Andrea, we *do* let people starve in this country. We just make sure they do it out of public view. The statistics on childhood starvation in the US are frightening.
And, apparently there are very many in this country who are quite satisfied with letting thousands (18,000 is a number I read recently) of people every year die preventable deaths because their healthcare was cut off.
Until we face the fact that we are having a crisis of compassion, we can continue to sweep these problems - and the people having them - under the carpet.
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Posted by Charlie, a resident of the Sylvan Park neighborhood, on Sep 3, 2009 at 5:02 pm Helping people who cannot afford health care is a WELFARE program. People do not need insurance if they have a welfare system (city, county or state) that provides health care for the poor. Amendment X of our federal constitution tells us that health care and welfare are not appropriate federal issues, they are "left to the states and the people."
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Posted by Bruno, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 3, 2009 at 5:20 pm Charlie,
What about the people that have insurance, but their claims are legitimate claims are denied by their insurer in an attempt to boost profits? Would insurers covering those medical expenses still be considered "WELFARE" as you put it? That's a key component of this issue, or do you just see poor people in your head lined up for miles ready to take money out of your wallet?
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Posted by Dickster, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on Sep 3, 2009 at 7:38 pm Sorry Charlie, there's no mention of health care or welfare in Amemndment X (Article X). There's no mention of Education either. Should the Federal Government NOT be mandating education of our children according to common standards? I support Health Care Reform.
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Posted by Laura, a resident of another community, on Sep 3, 2009 at 8:40 pm I think we have to get educated on this and not act just on our emotions. I know a lot of people whose health insurance premiums have gone way up and who have been denied treatments that they really needed. I also don't like having to foot the bill for uninsured people using the emergency room unnecessarily.
I was very impressed by Anna Eshoo's poise, demeanor, and honest answers to our questions and concerns. Her point about not labeling is a good one. We don't have to label each other or the proposals.
I do think we need health care reform in our country and I believe that this proposal is a step in the right direction.
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Posted by Old Ben, a resident of the Shoreline West neighborhood, on Sep 3, 2009 at 9:08 pm This should be done at the state level. The Federal government is too big.
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Posted by Older Phil, a resident of the Blossom Valley neighborhood, on Sep 3, 2009 at 9:36 pm Well, Old Ben, "leaving it to the states" is exactly what the Republicans did in the Great Depression, or are you not old enough to remember? They left it to the states, all right, and then, as now, the states did nothing.
There are no surprises there - where a Republican is involved, nothing gets done that helps anybody else. Business, yes, people, no.
If you want help, when Republicans are involved, you'd better be a corporation.
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Posted by Lynn RN, a resident of another community, on Sep 3, 2009 at 11:29 pm Any institution that is not run well and efficiently fails whether it's the "government" or private business. They are all run on money and by people. Our govt. actually does quite well in many services. Medicare insone of them. Ask any senior.
It is now underfunded because we are living longer. When the percentage of deduction to pay for it was determined was when folks died at a younger age. As a result reimbursement is poor to providers and they drop Medicare pts. Hospitals may get reimbursed for many procedures. Ask most seniors.
Most folks don't know that the claims processing of Medicare is done by private non-profit businesses like Blue Cross/Blue Shield. That's because they do a good job. There's an example of public/private partnership.
Single Payer is really the only real reform and it's basically expanding Medicare, which is only an insurance program. Health Care would continue being private. In fact you will have total choice of provider unlike now where the HMO, PPO plans have a list of providers. It's NOT a govt. takeover!! It just pays the bills as Medicare does now. Once folks understand its great benefits it's a no-brainer for both business and individuals.
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Posted by TrueDem but not Socialist, a resident of the Whisman Station neighborhood, on Sep 4, 2009 at 1:49 am I used to be poor and I didn't have health insurance for many years. Then I thought to myself, wow, I'm poor and I don't have any health insurance, I better work really hard so I can improve my situation. I never wanted or expected the government to give me free healthcare. Why would I want my tax money to pay for my neighbor's health care who is a drug dealer and doesn't pay any taxes? It starts with mortgages and healthcare and new cars but before long you will be paying for your lazy neighbor's cable TV, internet and credit cards too. I can't believe you all voted for Obama because he has a nice smile and still defend him after what he is trying to do. Obama lied. That is not a catchphrase that I stole from the Bush era, it is the truth. He totally misrepresented himself during the campaign. This nation is rapidly approaching communism. I know you don't want to believe it and neither do I, but it is true. Wake up and look at the facts instead of being captivated by Comrade Obama and his fairy tale. The conservatives used to be the whackos but now I am sad to say that is not the case anymore (although there still are a few). You ever heard of Thomas Sowell? Do a youtube search on him and listen to what he has to say.
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Posted by Jon Wiener, a resident of another community, on Sep 4, 2009 at 10:04 am "TrueDem," I assume you still expected to be provided with healthcare at an emergency room.
I don't want to live in a society where we leave people to get sick die in the streets. A democratic society of that sort seems like it would be unlikely to last long. Furthermore, the declining number of us with quality healthcare would face much exposure to contagious diseases. And, of course, there are the obvious moral arguments, though I don't expect a social darwinist to put much stock in them.
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Posted by Ben, a resident of the Monta Loma neighborhood, on Sep 4, 2009 at 11:57 am Sent to the President
President Obama
Subject: Healthcare Coverage for Everyone
Here is just one point that people cannot agree on. Should everyone be covered, the poor legal or illegal? Adults without healthcare could be walking around in stores and have a non curable tuberculosis. Another bad situation; their children have not had shots or are coming down contagious diseases (whooping cough, swine flu, etc.) Their parent’s wait and have them out shopping until they become so sick that they need to go to the emergency room.
Yes, everyone is covered in the most expensive system – the emergency hospital room – an we all pay for it including the idiots that think they are not paying for it.
How stupid can Congress be not to include coverage of everyone in the healthcare bill?
Please cover everyone, including illegals. – Single Payer or Public Option, that protcts us alll.
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Posted by ben, a resident of the Monta Loma neighborhood, on Sep 4, 2009 at 11:59 am We expect the general public to decide on healthcare when the readers of MV Voice cannot decide agree on who is left wing and who s right wind. (Most people the have health care do not know what is cover and what is not covered – they find out only when they get sick.)
Here is just one point that people cannot agree on. Should everyone be covered, the poor legal or illegal? Adults without healthcare could be walking around in stores and have a non curable tuberculosis. Another bad situation; their children have not had shots or are coming down contagious diseases (whooping cough, swine flu, etc.) Their parent’s wait and have them out shopping until they become so sick that they need to go to the emergency room.
The people that cannot agree that everyone, I mean everyone, needs to be covered for basic healthcare for the good of the community, then they are too just too stupid to decide anything on healthcare.
Since Congress think US citizens are not vulnerable to diseases carried by the poor and the illegal residents of this country, they also are too dam stupid to be writing a healthcare bill!
This is not being discourteous or impolite; it is stated fact. Maybe Congress thinks they if they keep “Under god” in the pledge and “In god We Trust” on the money their mythical god will keep the privately insured people safe for illnesses.
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Posted by Jeff Segall, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 4, 2009 at 2:48 pm "Amendment X of our federal constitution tells us that health care and welfare are not appropriate federal issues, they are "left to the states and the people.""
Funny, your constitution reads differently than mine.
10th Amendment of the US Constitution - "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution - "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;"
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Posted by Ned, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 4, 2009 at 3:17 pm One thing's for sure, the way things are going your health care needs in the future will be decided upon by politicians, lawyers, and businessmen or women. Funny how doctors and patients (present or future) seems to get little say on how it should be set up to work best for them.
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Posted by TrueDem but not Socialist, a resident of the Whisman Station neighborhood, on Sep 4, 2009 at 3:48 pm Posted by Jon Wiener, a resident of another community, 5 hours ago
"TrueDem," I assume you still expected to be provided with healthcare at an emergency room.
I did need to go to the emergency room during this time. I went to El Camino Hospital and they took care of me. A couple weeks later I received a very large bill in the mail from them. They allowed me to setup a monthly payment plan and I paid the bill in full myself. No handouts needed. Thank you El Camino Hospital and god bless America.
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Posted by Jon Wiener, a resident of another community, on Sep 6, 2009 at 11:24 am I'm sorry to hear that you required emergency care. Note that you would have received it regardless of your ability to pay for it. That is a form of government-run health insurance, paid by society at large rather than government, and one that most of us should be rather proud of. As you said, though, the e.r. was quite expensive. In many cases, those expenses can be avoided when people have access to decent preventative care.
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Posted by Charlie, a resident of the Sylvan Park neighborhood, on Sep 8, 2009 at 10:37 pm If we are going to cover illegal aliens with health care, all those who enter a doctor's office or a hospital should be required to prove legal status in the US. For those who cannot provide that info, after they are treated they should be turned over to the Immigration Control Enforcement (ICE) for deportation. Then we will not have to worry about their germs or their illegal status.
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