Fireworks and boredom at Diana DeGette's health care town hall meeting

August 31, 10:10 PMDenver Community Issues ExaminerRichard Taylor

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By the standard of other health care town hall meetings held around the country by members of congress, Monday's forum with Congresswoman Diana DeGette at the Englewood Public Library was tame. Even the four Englewood Police officers in attendance said so. By the standards of what the Denver congresswoman is accustomed, it was a raucous event.

Representative DeGette, to her credit, often has community forums or "Office Hours." They are attended by a half-dozen citizens usually die-hard Democrats who pepper her with questions like, "What is it like to serve in Congress?", "Does your family enjoy Washington D.C.?" and "Do you believe that children are the future of our country?"

Sixty-five people attended Monday's meeting. Based on applause, 60% of the attendees supported congressional plans for healthcare and 40% were opposed. The opposition was polite for most of the session, but there were "boos" and some out-of-turn shouting from the peanut gallery. The congresswoman looked rattled at times not being used to the impertinence of those petitioning their elected representative.

The crowd asked tough questions during the Q & A session and the thirteen-year House veteran responded with her secret weapon - boredom.

Questions about growth of bureaucracy, size of deficits, quality of care and tort reform were answered with anecdotes from Ms. DeGette's life and lengthy explanations of the process of how legislation is made along with the names of hundreds of members of congress and which states they represent. It may have held the interest of policy wonks and political science majors, but very little was said about how the proposed health care legislation would benefit or harm those who attended the meeting. Some people are interested in how sausage is made, but most people only care about how the bratwurst will taste after grilling.

It's doubtful any minds were changed at the end of the hour-and-twenty-minute session. Brief arguments erupted among attendees leaving the library. The congresswoman believes the legislation will pass by the end of the year. Maybe yes, maybe no.

Maybe some day Representative DeGette can go back to having her "Office Hours" where a typical question is, "Did you ever meet Sonny Bono?"

Congresswoman DeGette's pro health care points:

• American health care costs are the highest in the world.
• The United States ranks 29th in health results according to the World Health Organization.
• 47 million Americans are without health insurance.
• There needs to be a public option to control costs.
• Will support a single-payer option, but does not think it will pass.

Opponents' key points:

• A government solution is not the answer.
• Medicare is going broke and other government health care programs such as the Indian Health Service do not meet the needs of those they try to help.
• Private insurance companies need to make a profit in order to stay in business. A government-run competitor only needs to print money. The government run insurance company may be the only insurance company in the future.

Best Question:

• How will this be payed for?   - The congresswoman said her aide will e-mail the details to anyone interested. Still not in the Inbox.

Did Diana DeGette misspeak or were they Freudian slips?

• "...a model for the plan we're imposing."
• "Here's something you free-market folks will like."