Oklahomans Speak Out About Health Care Reform

DUNCAN, Oklahoma -- Oklahoma congressional delegates are back home for the summer break. U.S. Congressman Tom Cole made a stop in southwest Oklahoma to hear from residents in his district about health care reform.

Congressman Cole is taking this break and spending it with constituents. He wants feedback before he votes on the massive health care reform bill.

Town hall meetings like this are taking place all over the country as Congress takes a break before they return to Washington D.C. to tackle healthcare reform.

"We are clearly in the middle of a large national debate," Congressman Tom Cole said.

Cole arrived to a packed auditorium in Duncan. These Oklahomans came to make their voices heard.

"It needs to be tweaked but we don't have to overhaul the whole system," said George Parker, who does not support health care reform.

George Parker of Rush Springs said the proposed bill reminds him of the health care in his home state.

"The Massachusetts Insurance Bill is exactly what this is and it's a total financial failure in Massachusetts," Parker said.

Only one person in the meeting stood in support of the health care proposal, but a majority of the people at the town hall meeting were skeptical.

"It will make you physically sick that they will ration health care, give free health care to illegals, give us classes on euthanasia. And I'm about 65-years-old, I'm about ready to start," said Lynn Parr, who is skeptical of health care reform.

These residents want Congress to listen to their concerns and not rush the vote.

"We're going to get this healthcare crammed down our throats no matter what we say or do about it," Parker said.

Congressman Cole said if he had to vote on the bill today as it is written, he would vote ‘No.'