A vocal, but for the most part civil crowd of more than 500 people gathered at the North Charleston Coliseum’s convention center for a town hall meeting Sept. 3.
Hosted by U.S. Rep. Henry Brown of the First Congressional District, the attendees aired viewpoints and asked questions on a variety of issues, including the ongoing healthcare reform debate.
Brown touched on several topics, starting with America’s dependence on foreign energy sources and his belief that the United States has – and uses – more energy than any country in the world. Brown said he wants to see the country get back to producing the lion’s share of the energy it uses.
“You know, back in the ’70s, our leaders in Washington were saying we need to find ways to be energy independent,” Brown said. “Back then, we imported about 30 percent of our oil. Now we’re importing about 70 percent. We need to do something to restore the energy we have.”
He decried the fact that the government is currently spending millions to develop offshore sources in Brazil, for example.
“We’re going to send $400 million a year so that we can buy energy from them,” he said.
Brown also had harsh words for the Obama Administration’s cap and trade proposal.
“That is going to do nothing but drive companies with good jobs in America to places like China and India – where there is no such thing as cap and trade,” he said.
Brown then gave some of his views on the current healthcare reform proposal. According to Brown, some 40 million people do not have health insurance. However, he pointed out that more than 270 million people do.
“The government has decided if 87 percent have healthcare insurance and 13 percent don’t, then let’s just re-do the whole thing,” he said. “We feel like you shouldn’t just throw away the 87 percent that’s working.”
Nonetheless, Brown did say he and other Republicans recognize that some parts of the system can and should be changed.
“There are some things we can do to fix healthcare,” he said. “For one, small business should have the same tax deductions as large corporations for healthcare. We should allow employees to move their insurance if they move jobs. And there should be some provision for people with pre-existing conditions to get health insurance.”
The point he and fellow Republicans are trying to make, he said, is that he believes healthcare is a responsibility, not an entitlement.
Another area the government should look into is tort reform, a statement met with thunderous applause from the crowd.
“There’s some $127 billion being spent in this country today on unnecessary healthcare because doctors don’t want to risk lawsuits,” Brown said. “We’ve got to do better.”
Brown then brought up three more points he believes are germane to the situation.
“Nobody wants a bureaucrat interceding between them and their doctor; nobody wants the federal government to pay for abortions; and nobody wants to meet with a bureaucrat for end of life counseling,” he said.
Brown also pointed out later, in an answer to a question from the audience, that tax cuts implemented in 2001 by the Bush administration expire in 2011 and will probably not be renewed because the funds will go to pay for the Obama healthcare plan.
After his comments, Brown opened the floor to questions, While a number of the people who spoke commented more than queried, they did touch on several subjects, including term limits, earmarks, public versus private insurers and the general direction the country seems to be headed.
“Do you think that the constitution is being compromised by the healthcare reform?” one attendee asked.
“I think it is being challenged,” Brown replied. “I think you have to decide whether healthcare is a responsibility, not a privilege.”
“We want to help people if they need help – but we want to make sure they help themselves first,” he said.