Udall Still Backs Public Health Plan

Michael Coleman and Hailey Heinz

Sep. 4, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- TUCUMCARI -- A monthlong series of frequently fiery town hall meetings on health care came to an end in New Mexico on Thursday with Sen. Tom Udall declaring that a proposal for a public option, or government-run health plan, isn't dead yet.

"I told people here, and I've said throughout my town halls, that I support a public option," the first-term Democrat said in an interview after a town hall at the Tucumcari Convention Center. "I hope we'll be able to put a bill on the floor that will have a public option."

Udall's remarks after the relatively tame meeting in conservative-leaning Tucumcari came as speculation builds nationally that President Barack Obama will back off his insistence that Congress pass a bill with a government-run health plan.

Obama is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday and discuss health care. Congress returns to work next week after members spent much of August back in their home districts.

The public-option proposal, while championed by many Democrats in Congress and others, met with stiff resistance at some of the town hall meetings in New Mexico and across the country.

Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., also heard from constituents Thursday, in an orderly format at his Rio Rancho office. Dozens of constituents signed up in advance for five-minute, one-on-one meetings with the congressman during a twohour block.

Charlotte and James Hester were among those waiting their turn to see Lujan. The Rio Rancho couple said they went to see the congressman because they are concerned that proposed health care changes could affect their Medicare benefits.

"We have Medicare, and we're very happy with it," James Hester said.

The couple said they think any cuts to Medicare's budget should come from waste and abuse, but should not affect benefits.

Some others waiting for their time with the Democratic congressman were in favor of his party's health care proposals. Dixie Trebbe of Rio Rancho said she went to the office to urge Lujan to keep a public health care option on the table.

"It's the only thing, quite frankly, that's going to make the insurance companies pay attention," Trebbe said.

Most members of New Mexico's all-Democratic delegation hosted at least one town hall meeting during the recess, and Udall led the pack with five such events. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., a member of the so-called Gang of Six crafting health care legislation in the Senate, has not hosted a town hall meeting in years, but agreed to participate in two health care forums in August.

Although none of the town halls in New Mexico disintegrated into chaos, many of them -- including events in Albuquerque, Clovis, Ruidoso and Raton -- were crowded and heated with protests against Democratic plans.

Audiences at other town halls, particularly in Santa Fe, were much more receptive to the proposals.

Bingaman has voiced consistent support for a public option, but has also said public health care co-ops could accomplish the same goal of making health care affordable to millions of Americans who don't have it.

Although Udall affirmed his support of a public option in Tucumcari, most of his questioners didn't seem too concerned about that element of the Democratic plan.

LaVern Knowles, a construction company retiree, turned up at the town hall to quiz Udall about Medicare. She had heard that Obama planned to scale back Medicare coverage for older Americans. Udall said he hadn't heard that but would oppose the president if he suggested it. That seemed to satisfy Knowles.

"He said he wouldn't vote for it; I hope he can convince some of the rest of them," Knowles said.

The House health care legislation has been estimated to reduce spending on Medicare by $218 billion over a 10-year period. It would also lower federal payments to some Medicare providers, including companies that administer Medicare Advantage plans, which serve about 69,000 New Mexicans.

Rita Romero of Tucumcari said she had family members who can't afford any insurance and urged Udall to keep fighting for changes in the health care system.

"I think we need reform, and I hope you will fight hard for it," Romero said.

Carl Unruh, owner of the Rough Country Pawn shop in Tucumcari, attended the meeting and sat with friends near the front. He said he was disappointed in Congress on issues ranging from health care to spending.

"It's time to stand up and have a voice," said Unruh, who did not get a chance to ask a question. "I'm going to be actively involved in politics from here on out."

At Udall's forums across New Mexico, audience members were asked to submit their names and questions in writing. The queries were then pulled at random from a clear plastic bowl, and the authors were invited to ask them.

Afterward, Udall said he was happy with the feedback he has received over the past month but said he was concerned that some attendees had bad information about the health care bills Congress is crafting.

"I go back with the idea that there is a lot of misinformation," Udall said. "We need to be more responsive in terms of telling people exactly what we're working on."

Newstex ID: KRTB-0010-37752366