Health care reform legislation sparked protests on both sides of the
issue Tuesday. Those who support reform say there`s no better time than
now to reform our health care system. At the Federal Building in
Bismarck, a group of people discussed what they say needs to change.
The rally was held by the Code Pink Organization, Women for Peace.
Members gathered at the Bismarck offices of our congressional
delegation. Their message was "fund healthcare, not warfare." They
presented each office with a banner to send to Senators Dorgan and
Conrad and Representative Pomeroy.
"Healthcare reform costs money, to make any changes in this country
costs money, and here we`re sending all kinds of money into warfare
that doesn`t work and doesn`t help our people, and healthcare reform
would help our people," says Karen VanFossen with Code Pink.
The group says it felt the need to respond to President Obama`s decision to send 30-thousand more troops to Afghanistan.
On the other side, those who oppose reform say now is not the time to
be considering making changes. Led by the state Republican Party, a
group of North Dakotans rallied outside the Federal Building asking our
US Senators not to support health care reform legislation. They say
it`s too big of an expense at a time when our nation`s economy is
suffering.
"We don`t know what the economy is going to be like next year. 60
percent of North Dakotans say we should be focusing on the economy and
yet we`re willing to spend trillions of dollars on another big
government health care plan, government takeover. That`s not what we
want right now," says Adam Jones with the state Republican Party.
The Campaign for Responsible Health Care Reform also participated today
by delivering about 150 petitions to Senator Byron Dorgan`s office.
Democrats say Republicans have offered up no ideas for health care.
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