Large Turnout for Congressman Boren Town Halls

Oklahoma's only Democratic congressman is making town hall stops Tuesday in McAlester, Muskogee and Pryor to discuss health care reform and other issues.

Tuesday, August 18th 2009, 8:00 am

By: News 9


Staff and Wire Reports

TULSA, Oklahoma - Oklahoma's Second District Congressman Dan Boren met Tuesday with his constituents face-to-face, holding a series of town hall meetings where people sounded off about the future of the health care system.

U.S. Rep. Dan Boren was first elected in 2005 and is up for re-election next year. His seat has been targeted by the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Some similar town halls across the country have recently become unruly, although those hosted so far in Oklahoma by Republican Reps. Tom Cole, Frank Lucas and Mary Fallin have not been as contentious.

Boren's first town hall stop Tuesday was in McAlester.

Some say Boren's meetings have been mostly spirited civil debates because the congressman sounded a lot like a republican.

At the meeting in McAlester, Boren started with some light hearted stories about family and his schedule before opening up the floor to questions about anything his district wanted to know, from health care to the stimulus.

The attendees came with their game face on.

"I had to be here. I'm really concerned about what's happened to our country and my grandchildren and great grandchildren," said Lonnie Lu Anderson, a Crowder resident.

"I think everybody should pay their own. I don't think we should go in there and buy insurance for everyone, they would abuse it," said Mary Kay, a McAlester resident.

But if the crowd was looking for a fight, they didn't get much of one.

Congressman Dan Boren said he's voting no on the current house bill before him and he has no intention of defending a bill he doesn't agree with.

The congressman said there are good and bad provisions of the health care bill, but what he's hearing from constituents is that legislation is being rushed and we need to slow down, which Boren agrees with.

"I have a real problem with the public option, because I think it crowds out other plans. It becomes a single payer system where you have government run healthcare," said Rep. Dan Boren.

Boren said he can't back a bill that would increase taxes and possibly hurt small businesses. And while the majority of the crowd seemed pleased, there were a few who wondered if they wandered into the wrong town hall.

"Democrats say something else, I'm confused about what party you're really in," an attendee said to Boren.

Boren said cost control was also an important step in health care reform.

With 26 percent of his district uninsured, Boren admits the status quo isn't working. He said something should be done, but for now he's listening to those who put him in office.

"At the end of the day, that's who I represent, are the people who elected me and that's what I'm going to continue to do," said Rep. Dan Boren.

Congressman Boren's second town hall meeting was in Muskogee. Hundreds of people didn't hesitate to show their anger over the proposed health care overhaul.

An overflowing crowd packed the Muskogee Civic Center. Congressman Boren said health care reform is needed, but he opposes any law that would lead to a government-run health care system.

There were frequent disruptions from people in the audience, but most were scolded by the rest of the audience to get in line if they had a question or comment.

"We have the best health care in the world, in the United States, but the system has flaws," said Rep. Dan Boren.

Boren also says he doesn't support any plan that would provide federal funding for abortion coverage.

Congressman Boren's final town hall meeting Tuesday was in Pryor at the Mid-America Expo Center. It was well attended and while folks weren't shy about expressing their opinions, there weren't any shouting matches like we've seen so much of nationwide.

Congressman Boren has also pledged that if the health care bill passes, he would take that plan, even if the plan for federal lawmakers might be better.

More on News9.com:
- Crowds Pack Oklahoma Legislators' Town Hall Meeting
- Oklahomans Voice Opinions on Health Care at Moore Town Hall Meeting
- 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

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