For Marilyn Moody of Devola, a community forum regarding the U.S. House of Representatives' bill on health care reform (HR 3200) was enlightening.
"I learned a lot - very much so," Moody said. "We hear so many rumors going around. Just to hear doctors, lawyers and business people discussing this and answering our questions - people who knew what they are talking about - puts it all in perspective for me."
There were no loud outbursts - common at some forums with lawmakers featured on national newscasts - at Tuesday's forum. In fact there seemingly were no objections as more than 350 people gathered at the American Legion in Marietta to hear a panel discuss written questions posed about the health care issue and public option for coverage. The meeting lasted 90 minutes.
Applause came with the call by panel members for tort reform and for a Good Samaritan law for providers and hospitals. The audience also responded negatively to the suggestion that members of Congress and federal employees will not be subject to the heath care reform bill.
Panel members suggested the bill is simply too sweeping and huge, costing far too much money and increasing the federal deficit overwhelmingly.
"As a student of business and economics all my life, doing this, suggesting spending $1 trillion when there is an $11 trillion, $552 million deficit in this country, is not acceptable. Wait until our nation is on a better footing," said panel member Bob Kirkbride, of Marietta. "Discussion of this should stop right now."
Dr. George Tokodi, of Marietta, said the issue of rationing health care under this bill is "inevitable."
"I don't think government really cares about the 45 million uninsured. It's an excuse to control health care," he said.
Carrie Haughawout, with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, said small business will be adversely affected by the legislation.
"We all recognize that we do need reform and changes in health care," she said. "Reach out to your members of Congress and let them know how you feel."
Doctors on the panel - Richard Cain, Lloyd Dennis, Neil Grosel and Tokodi - answered submitted questions from audience members regarding current health care practices.
"We need to discuss options," Cain said. "There are several sides to the issue. Medicare and Medicaid don't pay their way now. There is a better way than what's on the table now."
Panel member Khadine Ritter, Marietta attorney, has read all 1,018 pages of HR 3200.
"We could have spent another 10 hours discussing this," said Ritter, after the meeting. "I was so happy to see such a large crowd. We need people to participate in the process and cannot allow this to happen without citizen input."
Ritter said every person in America will be affected if HR 3200 goes forward.
The health care reform bill as proposed is not final and not the only version in the House, said Fred Dailey of St. Marys, W.Va.
"It's just the only one we are able to see. The Senate is working on its own bill, but keeping it under wraps," Dailey said.
Dailey, a member of Constitutional Advocates of St. Marys, was one of several dozen people who left the forum before it concluded.
"I have studied this to death. There is nothing new here for me," he said. "Whichever side a person is on in this issue, everybody needs to read the bill."
Molly Varner, chairwoman of the Democratic Party in Washington County, said as she left the meeting early that the "deck was stacked."
Varner later phoned and said the forum was not "informative" to her.
"I didn't hear anyone talk about health care for the 46 million Americans who are uninsured," she said. "I was a little disturbed that everything was geared to the business and money of health care, not the patients."
The community forum Tuesday at the American Legion was sponsored by the Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce, Marietta OH 9-12 Project, and Ohio Senior Citizens for Real Answers.
Marietta OH 9-12 Project member Glenn Newman, of Marietta, said he would have been thrilled if eight people attended.
"This was neighbors," Newman said. "We are the people."
Caldwell residents Ron and Faye Myers, members of the Marietta OH 9-12 Project, a sponsor of the forum, said they were pleased with the event.
"It was informative," Ron Myers said. "I think it's a crying shame our elected officials don't think this is important enough to be here."
Congressmen Charlie Wilson and Zack Space and U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown and George Voinovich were invited, but Newman said the group received no response from their offices.
A spokesman for Space said Marietta is not in the congressman's district, which covers all or part of 15 counties, including Morgan and Athens. A spokeswoman for Brown said the senator was in Cincinnati Tuesday night. Newman said Wilson had earlier told him he would not be attending.
A call to Voinovich's office was not returned.
Some residents have criticized lawmakers for not holding the type of town hall forums in this area that their counterparts in other states have offered. The lawmakers have attended some events related to the issue, and Wilson held a telephone town hall forum last week.
