Oklahomans React to President's Health Care Speech

Despite President Barack Obama&#39;s primetime appeal to the nation and a joint session of Congress, health care reform may still be a tough sell for Oklahomans and their representatives in Washington. <BR><BR><A href="http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?s=11103707">Poll: Did the president&#39;s speech answer your health care questions?</A>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<A href="http://bit.ly/1Z4LCU" target=_blank>Full Text of the Speech</A>

Wednesday, September 9th 2009, 10:54 pm

By: News 9


News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Despite President Barack Obama's primetime appeal to the nation and a joint session of Congress, health care reform may still be a tough sell for Oklahomans and their representatives in Washington.

Obama used the hour-long speech to dispel some of the rumors about his call for reform and outline his views. Some of the bullet points of the administration's plan included, it would be against the law for insurers to drop coverage to those who become ill or deny coverage for those with preexisting conditions; zero dollars from the Medicare trust will be used to fund the plan.

Obama spoke in favor of a provision for the federal government to sell insurance in competition with private industry. But he did not insist on it, and said he was open to other alternatives that create choices for consumers.

University of Oklahoma political science professor Keith Gaddie said polls indicated many Oklahomans are for health care reform but do not want a public, government-run option

"The solution presented by the president moves towards a market based solution, so the final bill will not be as scary as thought," Gaddie said.

In an interview on NEWS 9 This Morning, Congresswoman Mary Fallin said she did not think the speech answered her concerns and the concerns of the constituents she met with last month in Oklahoma City.

"I did not hear anything that to me indicated that he was listening to the American people," Fallin said.

Congressman Tom Cole said in a statement following the address that his constituents do not want a public option and fear the government intruding on health care.

"They don't want bureaucracy wedged between them and their personal physicians," Congressman Cole said. "I want to prevent the government takeover of our health care system, not just postpone it."

Congressman Frank Lucas also said the speech did not settle his doubts of the viability of a public health care option.

"If there is one thing that I heard loud and clear from my constituents during the 18 town halls I held throughout my district in August, it is that they are dissatisfied with the pieces of health care legislation currently before Congress," Lucas said in a statement.

"Yet, after listening to the president's speech this evening, it has become clear that he plans to continue to disregard what the American people want and push for government-run health care. We need to get back to the drawing board on health care reform."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

NEWS 9 wants to know if your questions about the health care overhaul were answered during President Obama's address. Take the poll above and leave your unanswered questions below in the comment section.

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