Town Hall On Health Care

The topic that led to Senator Wilson’s outburst earlier this week was a topic of discussion here in Savannah on Friday.  Georgia’s Black Legislative Caucus hosted a town hall type of meeting at the Mulberry Inn this afternoon to update legislators and their constituents on the proposed federal health care legislation.  It was a much calmer scene than we’ve seen at many of these town hall meetings.  A medical professional and member of the political group “Organizing For America” served as speakers and answered questions.  The queries included topics such as the so-called death squads, tort reform and the effect of healthcare reforms on small business.  All in all - some said - it was what a town hall meeting really should be.  Georgia State Senator Lester Jackson says, “Town hall meetings should be more like information meetings, where they come to hear information and ask intelligent questions and they receive intelligent answers, not a platform for people to debate and push their issues.”  State Representative Al Williams concurs, “I’ve been concerned about the lopsided hearings and of course I’m an elected officials and most hearings kind of go how you conduct them and most of the hearings in our part of Georgia are conducted by people who are against the president’s reform.”

Of course - though most in the meeting today support the President’s efforts at reform - they are aware that many do not…specifically referencing Senator Wilson’s outburst during the President’s address to Congress.  “I was very surprised, in fact, I was actually there - at the President’s speech and the whole room and audience was very surprised about the outlash of a congressman, but that’s the mentality of American’s today.  People need to be informed, people need to listen versus just reacting,” said Senator Jackson.  Lee Goodall of the group “Organizing For America” said, “That was unfortunate, but that was just a minor hiccup along the way.  We feel very confidant that both members of the houses of congress will work across the aisle and will work with each other on a plan that’s comprehensive and helps all Americans.”  But it’s obvious the debate will continue.