Himes health forum takes on big crowd

Norwalk (WTNH) - Contentious town hall meetings have been taking place across the nation dealing with the hot-button issue of health care reform. Congressman Democrat Jim Himes (D-4th district) was in Norwalk and a big crowd was waiting.

There is no doubt the Founding Fathers' principal of freedom of speech is at its finest when a Congressman hosts a town hall meeting about reforming health care.

"My concern is the government's intrusion into many different aspects of our lives," said Michael Pope of Greenwich.

Congressman Jim Himes hosted the second of three meetings this week to discuss his stance on the highly controversial "public option" issue and answer questions from his constituents.

"My vision of the public option is an additional competitor providing more choices in what is largely an uncompetitive market right now," he said.

A packed auditorium was split on this debate; many questioning if the government should tackle individual problems within the health care system rather than enact a sweeping change.

"To monkey around with such a portion of our economy, in such a wholesale fashion, just doesn't make economic sense," said Winthrop Baum of Fairfield.

"If we get this wrong, the damage is really catastrophic and irreversible," said Rep. Himes. "This economy, this country, this government, this private sector can not sustain another two or three years of 10-11 percent increases in health care costs."

But there were also stories, and pleas, from people favoring the public option because they are without insurance from either being turned down or simply can't afford it.

"I work for a non-profit that cannot afford to give me health insurance. Many of my friends are in the same situation," said Alyssa Crouse of Westport.

"We're trying to make sure that every young person gets the kind of medical and health care that will make that person an American citizen in every sense of the word," said Rep. Himes.

Emotions ran high. At one point, an unidentified man attempted to take the microphone from a cancer patient. He was escorted out. But Himes stressed there will not be a rushed vote; that a broken medical system must be fixed but what exactly the answer is remains somewhat unclear.

"I believe we are going to get this done, I don't know what form it's going to take," said Rep. Himes.

The next meeting is Thursday night at Bridgeport's City Hall chambers.