Health care dominates Feingold listening session
WHITEWATER — Five police officers guarded an auditorium Friday afternoon on the UW-Whitewater campus. They didn’t appear to be needed.
Sen. Russ Feingold was in town for one of his county listening sessions. The three-term Democratic senator appeared to be in no danger during a session that lasted more than an hour. He told reporters he’s held 28 listening sessions so far this year, and while the earlier ones were “lively,” it’s been fairly positive over the past 10 or so.
Friday’s audience was mixed, with some unhappy or enraged at the Democratic push to pass major health-care legislation.
Most speakers were polite, and many supported Feingold with their applause.
Never did the session descend to angry shouting matches reported at other congressional constituent meetings around the country in recent months, but there were moments.
“The majority of people do not believe in this particular health-care plan. This has to be dropped RIGHT NOW,” said David Kron of Burlington in emphatic if not angry tones.
“This plan is nothing but toilet paper, 2,800 pages of toilet paper!” Kron said.
Kron said his premiums were going up, as were everyone else’s, and something had to be done to stop runaway spending.
Feingold said he had heard a lot of support for the Democrats’ health-care ideas in his recent listening sessions.
“That’s a lie!” said a man in the back who Feingold might have heard.
Feingold said the divide on health care is one of the sharpest he’s ever seen.
People seem to be waking to the need for change, because of insurance companies ruthlessly raising their rates, Feingold said, adding that Wellpoint “just jacked up our rates here in Wisconsin by 17 percent yesterday.”
A young woman noted that the United States is one of the only industrialized countries without a national health plan, “and that’s shameful.”
“No, that’s good,” said one man.
“That’s communism,” said a man in the back.
The comments were out of turn but not disruptive.
Susan Bellman of Delavan told Feingold she owns a small agricultural research company and is struggling to maintain health coverage with the latest premium set at more than $50,000 for four employees.
“That’s a powerful example of the reality out there,” Feingold responded. “What’s more important than making sure businesses can survive without being swamped by health-care costs?”
In the rear of the auditorium, two men stood holding signs that said “Insurance profits are bad for my health.”
A few speakers mentioned the single-payer system, essentially a government-run insurance plan. That got substantial applause.
A woman who identified her self as “S. Turner” of Oconomowoc said she is concerned about the rudeness and name-calling in the debate.
“I feel like the whole country is angry,” she said. “It’s just awful.”
Feingold said people have the right to express themselves, but he favors civility.
“I don’t measure public opinion by decibels,” Feingold added, drawing applause. “That’s not the way it is, and that is never going to be the way it is.”
Andrew Mastrocola of Dousman asked Feingold to point out the part of the Constitution that allows for a national health-care program.
“Where in this book do you have the authority?” he demanded.
“Where does it say you can filibuster?” someone called out.
Feingold pointed to Article 1, Sections 8 and 9, noting language that allows Congress to provide for the “general welfare.”
Mastrocola countered that those words were about military defense.
Feingold said if that’s true, then much of the law written over the past 100 years would have to be thrown out.
Feingold said that until recently, 95 percent of Americans favored universal health care. Now, he figures the nation is split down the middle.
“This state is really divided on this thing. We’re struggling with it,” Feingold said.
“People wanted us to slow it down,” Feingold said of the heath-care push. “But I hope people don’t want us to just do that.”
About those officers, UW Police Chief Matt Kiederlen said later that it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary; he provides similar security when the governor visits.
Mar 2, 2010 at 9:31 a.m.
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Vote out all the incumbents, no matter what their party is.
Mar 2, 2010 at 9:01 a.m.
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Facts are deflection: only to Conservative liars.
Mar 1, 2010 at 8 p.m.
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More deflection...
Mar 1, 2010 at 4:43 p.m.
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Well, RAF let me explain. I don't vote for her. She represents someone else. She comes from a very liberal district. So, the conservative obsession with her is sad AND creepy, OR just pathetic.
(It was sarcasm. I understand Conservatives don't do funny; they do unintentional creepy.)
Mar 1, 2010 at 7:37 a.m.
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Hey Darwin did you read, poor choice or words, did you hear Pelosi's words on the tea party, "we share some of the views of the Tea Partiers". Was it just with the stupid people of the movement she agrees with?
Mar 1, 2010 at 6:54 a.m.
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Poor darwin deflecting again. You are consistent.
Mar 1, 2010 at 6:29 a.m.
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Sadly, dub the teabaggers are stupid without the benefit of booze or drugs.
RAF, try reading the Constitution before asking so many ignorant questions.
Mar 1, 2010 at 12:06 a.m.
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http://www.healthcare-now.org/takeaction...
Let's take action. Are you tired of paying high costs for prescription medications, do you or someone you know have medical debt? Do you pay co-pays, premiums, just to have the insurance company tell you that you can not get the care that you need. We live in a country where every one pays to build and maintain schools, libraries, fire departments, police, postal services, and we as a people, at one time in history believed spending some tax dollars on all of those community services would benefit all of us. Why is it so awful to add universal health care to the list ? There is only one reason why people have been brainwashed into believing it's communism or a waste of money- to protect the bottom line. Insurance companies and big pharmaceutical companies will pay the media and congress men millions of dollars to protect their bottom line. And they do . everyday.
Again, how many people do you know that don't go to the dr. when their sick, because they can't afford it and it's not really technically an emergency. How many people do you know that stayed sick longer because they couldn't afford the medicine they needed from a doctor, and there for missed more work, then got behind on bills , some people have even lost their homes because of medical debt. When is this going to stop? Russ Feingold is the ONLY politician who actually wants to make changes and improve our country. I will support him as long as he continues to bring universal health care to the table . Because no one else in Washington is listening to what the people need. No other politician is willing to actually represent the people they work for. THINK ABOUT IT.
Every MAJOR change that affected our daily lives in this country, began as a small "independent" grassroots group efforts. People realizing that they can stop complaining about how things are and do something about it. People who were willing to fight for their beliefs and take risks, they are the ones whose hard work ensured slavery would be abolished, women would have the right to vote, and the civil rights movement, and ending wars. Now it's time to join the rest of the civilized, industrialized countries of the world and use their national health plans to create our own version, that works for us. It is time for change, but it's not time to make insurance companies richer to deny people operations, it's not time to make big pharma richer by paying $80 for 6 pills for cold sores. (Didn't we already pay for the research at Universities to create the medications?)
Do Something.
http://www.healthcare-now.org/takeaction...
Feb 28, 2010 at 10:47 p.m.
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lol
Feb 28, 2010 at 8:06 p.m.
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Healthcare reform will be passed soon whether we like it or not - put that in your constitution RAF.
Feb 28, 2010 at 4 p.m.
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" it tells you what you can't do."
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Hey "advanced degree" one, explain your words...provide your reference where the constitution tells you what you can't do...
Feb 28, 2010 at 3:58 p.m.
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RAF, it limits Congress by telling it what it can't do: you don't even understand your own words - dimwit.
Feb 28, 2010 at 3:55 p.m.
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Everyone is doing it worked for the Nazi pope. It works because the Supreme Court decides how the Constitution is interpreted not individuals. Clearly, Congress can do it except in delusional tea bagger land.
Feb 28, 2010 at 2:11 p.m.
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"He currently requires attendees to submit questions in writing and then he choses which ones he will answer. Much more civil as the gazette noted."
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A more accurate representation would be much more scripted...
Feb 28, 2010 at 2:10 p.m.
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"The Constitution doesn't tell you what you can do, it tells you what you can't do. Just another Conservative dimwit."
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Little Darwin's book of facts, no matter how far from reality he still thinks he knows something that is not there.
The Constitution limits government authority, not telling you what you can't do...dimwit.
Feb 28, 2010 at 2:07 p.m.
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"Feingold pointed to Article 1, Sections 8 and 9, noting language that allows Congress to provide for the “general welfare.”
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That is the problem with these people...thinking they read a way to do something that is not written.
Feb 28, 2010 at 2:02 p.m.
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Feingolds early sessions let the attending constituents ask questions at random. This made him look bad because the dissenting views were predominate. He currently requires attendees to submit questions in writing and then he choses which ones he will answer. Much more civil as the gazette noted.
Feb 28, 2010 at 11:02 a.m.
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"Conservative dimwit."
posted by a polite and soft spoken liberal. You must not follow Russes philosophy of civility.
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you are only correct in that the constitution does not tell "you" - the individual, what is permitted. It defines the powers of the Federal govt. The premise is that if the Feds can't find it in the Constitution, then its up to the States and the individual. The problem arises when people like Russ "find" things in the constitution then dismiss criticism with "if that’s true, then much of the law written over the past 100 years would have to be thrown out". Great way to justify yourself but the "everyone else is doing it" argument never worked for me.
Feb 28, 2010 at 10:49 a.m.
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A listening session is a tactic used by politicians who wish to appear connected to constituents. It's symbolism over substance. Whether these sessions are led by republicans or democrats they it accomplishes nothing. Meanwhile in other news Russ Feingold raises hundreds of thousands from New Yorkers and Californians. Does Russ offer any "listening tours" to those supporters?
Feb 28, 2010 at 9:34 a.m.
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The Constitution doesn't tell you what you can do, it tells you what you can't do. Just another Conservative dimwit.
Feb 28, 2010 at 8:20 a.m.
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Feingold only hears what he wants to hear. Whitewater is a liberal leaning area anyway. But you gotta give him credit for at least showing up to go thru that. Baldwin never has listening sessions (they should be called speech sessions as all they do is lecture).
Is anyone running against Feingold or Kohl?
Feb 28, 2010 at 5:44 a.m.
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Bag of wind
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