Republicans, Democrats Rally Separately to Make Views on Health-Care Reform Known

September 12, 2009

By Susan Jacobson
Sentinel Staff Writer
OrlandoSentinel.com

Dueling views of President Barack Obama's health-care-reform package duked it out separately in Central Florida on Saturday, starting with a pro-reform bus tour and ending with a talk by Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Steele spoke briefly at the Renaissance Senior Center at South Econ Community Park. About 55 people attended the roundtable discussion, scheduled in conjunction with National Federation of Republican Women convention this weekend in west Orange County.

Jim Martin, president of the 60 Plus Association, and David Merritt, vice president and director of national health policy at the Center for Health Transformation, also spoke.

Many people agreed that Obama is moving too quickly. They also expressed doubt that the country could afford such a sweeping plan monetarily and said they oppose the public option.

"I think there's a lot of room for the private sector to put things together," said Dan Galate of MetroWest, who works for a real-estate investment company.

One hot-button issue was whether illegal immigrants would be covered under Obama's proposal. The president, in a televised speech on Wednesday, assured Americans that they would not. Steele said the president was telling the truth. But he also said that, in practice, it would be impossible to verify patients' status, creating a "loophole."

Another concern was the cost of premiums. Al Oldendorp, 63, of Orlando said he needs to know more before Obama's plan is a done deal. He also said he prefers a more incremental approach.

"There's no reason to do all this right now and then not implement it till 2013," Oldendorp said.

Martin, whose group bills itself as a conservative alternative to AARP, applauded seniors for speaking out. He also warned that a "senior tsunami" would threaten politicians at the polls next year.

"You don't take a wrecking ball to a system and start all over," he said.

Merritt said his group, founded by former House speaker Newt Gingrich, advocates for reforms including limits on medical-malpractice lawsuits and electronic medical records that can easily be shared among doctors.

The discussion came on the same day as tens of thousands of anti-Obama protesters descended on Washington to complain about "big government" and the president's policies.

The opposing view was heard at the Central Florida Fairgrounds, where Organizing for America's "Health Insurance Reform Now" bus tour made a stop. U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando, was among the speakers.

Organizing for America supports Obama.

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