I just got back from a town hall

Congressman Braley sponsored it. They had The whole 8th grade class come. They were able to ask questions. One brave girl got up and said that people don't want anyone to come between her and her doctor. She ask, but what if her and her doctor decided that she needed an abortion. Brave kid. He answered about saving the life of the mother.

One guy asked if abortions would be paid for. Braley said "no". Then the man said that Cardinal so and so said they would. "Was the Cardinal lying?" I think Braley didn't respond.

One student said that she heard that he hadn't read the bill. I think that irritated him, but he took his copy of the bill and showed her how it was highlighted, and marked up and had stickies on it.

Of course they brought up Tort reform. He explained that it was a really small savings. Then he had a fantastic answer. He said "I trust you people to make the right decisions about a lawsuit. I don't want the government to make those kind decisions."

We had one doctor that got up and bitched about TriCare. He sometimes had to wait 30 minutes to get the ok to treat.
Braley said " I know how frustrating that is. I had knee surgery and we went through the same thing with my private insurance"

Then I got up and said "I know a lot of people here don't trust the government. Well, I don't trust the insurance companies! You don't know if you have bad insurance until you have to use it." Then I asked him "Since the insurance companies are exempt from anti-trust laws and anti-price fixing laws, if we don't have some real competition, how will we get them to reduce their costs?"

Unfortunately, I'm such a coward and was amazed that I got up in front of all these people and spoke, that I don't think I heard one word of his answer, but I bet it was good.

All and all it was pretty civil. There was some hooting when he explained the savings that we would get. And of course they didn't believe that their taxes will not go up.

Some guy was handing out very professional looking business cards advertising a teabagging event by the "Silent Majority". I just threw it back at him. They are not silent and they are not the majority. False advertising.

saying, "if he said that, he's misinformed."

But good for those kids for asking questions, and even better for Braley for inviting them.

Braley - We had one doctor that got up and bitched about TriCare. He sometimes had to wait 30 minutes to get the ok to treat.
Braley said " I know how frustrating that is. I had knee surgery and we went through the same thing with my private insurance"

and

You - Then I got up and said "I know a lot of people here don't trust the government. Well, I don't trust the insurance companies! You don't know if you have bad insurance until you have to use it."

:bounce:

And thank you for your bravery!

I spoke last night at a move on vigil ..
It was very hard but Managed to get through it .
People came up to me afterwords to thank me .

I'm considering posting it here on DU

You did good!

would have just been icing on the cake. You did us proud!! :headbang:

Honestly, why would anyone trust insurance companies?! I have to believe we all have horror stories or have a friend/family member who does.

I was at the Braley fundraiser in Waterloo after the townhall yesterday. He brought up your comment in his remarks to all of us in attendence. (I asked him if he wanted us to "booo" before he started speaking so he would feel at home, which got a laugh!) The group was comprised of very loyal supporters, but good questions were asked there as well.