Oklahomans Voice Opinions on Health Care at Moore Town Hall Meeting

MOORE, Oklahoma -- Hundred of Oklahomans voiced their opinions Tuesday about health care reform at a town hall meeting in Moore.

Congressman Tom Cole said it was the largest crowd he's seen at one of his town hall meetings. It was the legislator's second meeting this month. Members of Oklahoma's congressional delegation are hosting the meetings during Congress's August recess.

Congressman Cole said he is in support of health care reform, but is against the public health care option. He said tort reform should be the first step in fixing the current system.

"I think we need a national market in insurance," Congressman Cole said in the meeting.

After informing the audience on his alternatives to the current health care reform plan, Congressman Cole opened the floor to the audience.

"Many things need to be fixed before health care. He also inherited a big deficit and we hear it all the time, he has made it bigger. He also inherited a crack in the Liberty Bell, I don't want that fixed either," a resident said at the meeting.

Oklahomans told Cole how they feel about nationalized health care.

"I am leery of the government having more and more control over a huge section of our economy," John Madison said.

Unlike some meetings across the country, this one never turned violent, but there were plenty of differences in opinion.

"I want to know why we are so afraid of nationalized health care. I've had nationalized health care for 34 years," a resident at the town hall meeting said.

Congressman Cole said he and Senator Tom Coburn are planning a meeting with health care providers to get their input on health care reform.

More on News9.com:
- Oklahomans Debate Health Care Reform
- Oklahomans Speak Out About Health Care Reform 
- A Look at Health Care Plans in Congress
- Attend Your Lawmaker's Town Hall Meeting