Meeting focuses on health care reform

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - More than 50 people from all walks of life gathered at the Klondike Branch of the Tippecanoe County Library to discuss one important issue: Health care reform.

"It needs to change. It needs some reform, but not government takeover," said Marion resident Kimberly Whalen.

"I think a government sponsored single payer health care system would be our number one choice," said West Lafayette resident David Woolums.

Whalen says she believes if the proposed health care legislation passes people like her grandmother who was diagnosed with cancer will not get the treatment they need.

"Under the Obama health care plan she would have been counseled on not having the operation," said Whalen.

But David Woolums of West Lafayette disagrees...he says the health care bill is really about increasing the number of people who are eligible to receive treatment.

"People aren't getting the preventative care that they need. Small illnesses are turning into big illnesses and that's where we have big problems," said Woolums.

The town hall meeting was the second of its kind sponsored by Citizens in Action. Director of Operations Donn Brown says this weeks series of meetings open the dialogue and its clear to him that many people have similar concerns.

"Really I don't think I heard anything new tonight. A lot of the same arguments on both sides just different versions of it," said Brown.

While Whalen and Woolums have different opinions on health care reform both were impressed with the way the meeting was conducted.

"I think there were some tempers at times but I think people respected each other," said Whalen.

"They did a great job putting this on and allowing everyone to speak, and I'm really appreciative of that," said Woolums.

Brown says the Citizens in Action plan to hold more town halls on other issues in the future.