Latham fields questions about healthcare, energy
By KEN BLACK, TIMES-REPUBLICANArticle Photos
Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa, spoke to an audience of approximately 125 people during a town hall meeting in Marshalltown Tuesday, one of the biggest such audiences the area has seen in a non-election year.
"People are extremely upset and concerned with what's going on in Washington, D.C.," he said after the meeting. "They see Washington as out of touch with what's going on. The government takeover of private industry scares them to death."
Most of the questions at the forum centered around healthcare reform and the energy bill that recently passed the House - without Latham's approval.
One student, who will be graduating from college soon, said she is for a public option for healthcare. Majoring in the fine arts, she said her employment prospects look dismal and she needs the health insurance.
"Tell me," Latham said. "Should everyone else in this room pay for your healthcare?"
The answer, from many in the room, was no.
Ric Anderson, the store manager from the Marshalltown Hy-Vee, said he was concerned about taxing health insurance benefits. He noted he and others recently got done looking at what that may mean for some employees.
"Some of these people will be taxed several hundred more dollars per month," he said. "They can't afford that. That's a major hit to their lifestyles."
Latham responded by saying he was against such a tax. However, he said if Congress is to approve a public option, it has to be paid for in some way.
"There aren't enough rich people in the world to pay for what they are talking about right now," he said. "You are going to have to go to those families you are talking about [for money]."
Latham also spoke against the energy bill that is now before the Senate.
"At the end of the century, if this thing goes through, it will reduce temperatures by two-tenths of one degree - at the end of the century," he said.
In the meantime, everyone willpay substantially more now for that additional comfort in 90 years, he said.
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Contact Ken Black at 641-753-6611 or kblack@timesrepublican.com
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mtownwatcher
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07-02-09 1:07 AM
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bertmers, There were two announcements about this meeting in the newspaper two weeks in a row. May want to check closer next time.
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bertmers
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07-01-09 10:50 AM
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How did 125 people find out about this meeting? Are they all republicans? Thanks there, tr, for your community news reporting about community events that all can share in. I did notice that you actually had an article about the tea party on Saturday at 9am at the courthouse. Way to go.
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Puppetmaster
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07-01-09 2:47 AM
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From what I understand the average utility bill will go up from $1800 to $6000 a year, at the low end my utility bill will almost double. Luckily my house is paid for but damn, if you think the housing market was in trouble before look out if the new energy bill passes. I kept my thermostat at 58 degrees for most of the winter last year and I had 2-$360 utility bills last winter... that is after MICA winterized and insulated my house, I cant imagine what it would have been if they hadnt of insulated. I am seriiously thinking of selling my house and buying a dump in the country and put in a windmill and solar grid, and then fix the house with the money I save.
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