Feingold Feels Health Care Heat
PEWAUKEE - People who oppose the federal health care reform bill packed one of Senator Russ Feingold's "listening sessions." The standing-room-only crowd repeatedly expressed their anger over the health care bill.
"I'm just totally ashamed of our senators and Congress," said one woman. "We are fed up and you better get your resume ready," said another. Among other objections, the opponents said they are concerned with the cost of the bill and the constitutionality of the bill.
Feingold holds the listening sessions annually in every Wisconsin county. Monday's session took place at Waukesha County Technical College in Pewaukee.
A group of fewer than twenty people said they supported the health care plan. However, they were in the minority of people at the event. Feingold maintained the bill would help Wisconsin and bring our state a greater share of Medicare funding.
Opponents at the meeting criticized the way a conference committee is negotiating the bill out of the public's view. "This bill is being shoved down our throats in the middle of the night, backroom deals, without transparency, which you and Obama promised transparency," said one woman
TODAY'S TMJ4 asked Feingold about the transparency issue. "Well it should be out in the open," he said. "It should be on C-SPAN. But frankly, every single proceeding like that under President Bush was in secret and nobody said anything."
Before the forum, Feingold predicted he would hear strong opposition in Waukesha County with its strong Republican base. "I expect there to be some opposition given the fact that Waukesha County might be a place where there is more people that oppose it than be for it. But I go to every county every year regardless of politics," he said.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.