WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Hundreds attend town hall health care meeting

Hundreds attend town hall health care meeting

By Roslyn Anderson - bio | email

Second district Congressman Bennie Thompson held a town hall meeting Monday in Jackson.

The public was invited to share their thoughts at the M. W. Stringer Grand Lodge on Lynch Street.

More than 600 people packed the Masonic Lodge near the Jackson State University campus to talk one on one with Representative Thompson.

The session was the first in his series of town hall meetings on health care.

It was standing room only at Congressman Bennie Thompson's town hall meeting.

Those entering were given information about the frequently asked questions on House Resolution 3200.

People stepped up to the microphones to ask Thompson questions that ranged from whether abortion was contained in the bill and if illegal immigrants are covered.

The congressman said the answer to both was no.

Veteran Robert Benton of Brandon is skeptical about a government run healthcare program because of the problems he's encountered.

"I've seen that the quality of care is not what it should be for our veterans that have served, and I see this is gonna be the same thing with that option that they're talking about," said Benton.

Jacqueline Bolden of Jackson was concerned about the abortion question but wanted the facts about when the bill would take affect.

"It's been fed in the media that it's gonna happen overnight, but we've been informed that it's not gonna happen overnight. It has several houses to go through. It's gonna be done in 2013, and we're aware of that now," said Bolden.

Thompson said the meetings are to clear up misconceptions and gather information from constituents to take back to Washington.

He says 47 millions Americans, mostly working poor, have no health care because they can't afford it.

"They either don't have it offered on their job or the deductible and co-payments are so high until they can't afford it. So we have to come up with a program that accommodates that large number," said Representative Thompson.

He told the audience that if they are happy with their current insurance coverage they won't be affected.

Thompson also says no bill has been passed in the house and that lawmakers are in the first stage of the process.

Unlike many meetings across the country, this gathering was civil with only occasional interruptions for applause or disapproval.

Many were frustrated by  problems with the audio system inside the Masonic Hall which made it difficult to hear the congressman and those asking questions.

Thompson next town hall meetings will be held at 6:30 Tuesday in Greenville, Wednesday in Greenwood and Thursday at the Port Gibson City Hall.

The next session of congress begins September 8th.