Health reform critics voice concerns
With the U.S. Congress expected to vote this weekend on a $940 billion overhaul of the health care system, Brainerd area tea party followers and critics of the legislation filled Brainerd City Hall's main floor Friday to protest against the bill.
About 40 of the protesters carried signs and called for Ken Hasskamp, staff assistant to Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., to address the crowd in the hallway. Instead, Hasskamp invited them into a conference room and listened to their criticisms of the legislation.
Ken Hasskamp (sitting), staff assistant for U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., listened as critics of the health care legislation urged the congressman to vote no on the legislation this weekend. Steve Kohls/Brainerd Dispatch
Guy Green, a moderator at a recent Minnesota Freedom Council candidate forum in Brainerd, said that Oberstar was no Blue Dog Democrat - but rather was a Purple Pooch Democrat in the lap of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"It's time to send Jim home," Green said.
Green called for Hasskamp to come out in the hallway, telling him he couldn't hide forever. He told the protesters it was time to elect people "who think like we think, who feel like we feel and who are not afraid to say so."
When the group assembled in the city hall conference room Hasskamp told them the health care legislation does not change the Hyde Amendment - the legislation that has prohibited federal funding of abortion since 1976.
Hasskamp said after the meeting that Oberstar was strongly leaning toward voting for the bill. He said his role primarily is to listen and forward comments on to Oberstar's Washington, D.C., office. Hasskamp said he received 210 phone calls on health care Thursday, averaging between 100 and 200 calls a day for the past 10 days. Last week's calls were mostly in favor, he said, while this week's calls have been mostly against the measure.
Members of the protesting group cited a Fox News report in which a Democratic congressman cited the portion of the bill that would bring about a change in federal funding of abortion and questioned Oberstar's pro-life credentials.
Hasskamp said Oberstar has been pro-life since his election in 1974.
Tony Bauer of Nisswa noted the congressman has not conducted any town meetings on health care in the district.
"The man is a shill and a fraud," Bauer said.
One woman from Merrifield said the Obama bill would destroy the economy.
When Matt Linzbach of Merrifield thanked Hasskamp for listening to their concerns other members pointed out that the staff assistant was a paid employee and not a volunteer. Linzbach addressed the apprehension many people are feeling about the health care bill.
"We're afraid down to our socks," he said.
Mark Glazier, business agent for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 31, was the only person to speak in favor of the bill. He came to city hall while the protest happened to be under way. In responding to a question from an audience member, Glazier said he was a member of a union.
"You're a union thug," John Davis of Unorganized Territory said.
Davis later apologized to the union representative and told a newspaper reporter that his comment was out of line.
George Burton of rural Brainerd and a candidate for the Constitution Party for the 8th Congressional District did not address the crowd although he said he was one of the organizers of Friday's event. He told a reporter he believed the health care legislation was unconstitutional. He said he chose to run for the Constitution Party endorsement because the other parties had left him. He said he was a "quasi-Republican" before he sought the Constitution Party nod.
He said the Brainerd area tea party planned to conduct another April 15 rally but that details of that event had not yet been completed.
Last week Oberstar's office issued a news release listing benefits the health care legislation would have for 8th District residents. They included:
Improving coverage for 396,000 residents with health coverage.
Improving Medicare for 125,000 beneficiaries.
Extending coverage to 28,000 uninsured residents.
Reducing the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and health care providers by $120 million annually.
MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.