Town hall meeting brings forth opinions on both sides of health care

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – A West Michigan lawmaker took some heat over his health care reform vote on Thursday at a town hall meeting.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he still hopes to bring a health care reform bill to the floor next week, and he's hoping to pass a bill by year's end. Currently, Reid is waiting on an estimate from the congressional budget office on the bill's cost and coverage implications.

Earlier, the House passed a reform bill of its own, and like the Senate plan, it does include a public option. The final vote on that bill was 220 to 215, with on Republican voting for the plan, and only one West Michigan lawmaker, Congressman Mark Schauer, voting yes.

On Thursday, Schauer was back in West Michigan talking about the plan, and his vote.

The First Baptist Church in Battle Creek was filled on Thursday with people on both sides of the issue as the health care reform debate rages on.

Nearly a hundred constituents from Rep. Schauer's 7^th district filled the pews of the church to talk with Schauer, who was among the 220 Democrats who helped pass the bill.

"The decision became easy for me," said Rep. Schauer. "After listening to my constituents and they keep falling behind and becoming less economically competitive with the status quo."

Yet, there are still many people who feel their questions are being left unanswered. Some voiced concerns over whether the bill has any merit at all.

"I can't think of any programs that the government has been successful at," said Linda Garcia, "and have a difficult time envisioning them with the health care issue."

Garcia was among a handful of people in Thursday's audience who do not support health care reform. She told Newschannel 3 that she is fearful that if health care reform is signed into law her freedom will be stripped away.

"It's all about freedom in this country," said Garcia. "That's what I'm concerned about."

Yet across the aisle, there were plenty of others saying they stand behind Rep. Schauer's decision to help insure millions of Americans.

"We need to come together as Americans and support this bill," said Janice Cross.