Bellevue played host to a town hall meeting on federal health-care reform Tuesday, but it was nothing like the volatile events that have made news in recent weeks.
Around 50 people attended the meeting at Temple B’nai Torah, which turned out to be a one-sided affair. A pair of Democratic lawmakers, Sen. Karen Keiser of Washington’s 33rd Legislative District and Rep. Eileen Cody of the 34th District, answered a series of questions from a friendly crowd.
Among the first topics addressed was whether health care is a human right.
“If it weren’t, we’d be a society that lets people die on the sidewalks,” Keiser said. “We don’t quite do that, but it’s getting close.
“We have to do a moral compass check on where we are as a society.”
Other audience questions addressed fears about rumored death panels and coverage for illegal immigrants.
“There will be no death panels, so get that off the table,” said Keiser, who tried to dispel both notions.
Many audience members wore “Health Care Can’t Wait” stickers, and some joked about killing what they characterized as greed-driven health-insurance companies.
Kristine Van Buskirk, a 29-year-old Bellevue resident who recently suffered from post-partum heart problems, objected to the tone of the discussion at one point.
“I’m tired of all the joking here,” she said. “This is serious for people who have been there.”
Van Buskirk said she was misdiagnosed with bronchitis by doctors at Group Health, which she suspects was trying to avoid treating a more-expensive heart condition. She finally received help through the UW Medical Center.
The fear for Van Buskirk is that the proposed health-care legislation will go too far in trying to cut costs – a concern that started after she read a newspaper article about the Obama administration endorsing cooperatives like Group Health as an alternative to government-run insurance plans .
“This scares me,” Van Buskirk said. “I know enough about health care, and I’ve been a wreck ever since I heard about this.
“I don’t understand why we have to push it through so fast. We need reform, but not this.”
Steve Hill, administrator for the state’s health care authority, suggested the governor is ready to stand behind any bill that President Obama signs.
“We strongly believe we need a federal framework to cover all Washingtonians,” he said.
A number of Democratic legislators from the Eastside, including Rep. Ross Hunter, Sen. Rodney Tom, and Rep. Marcie Maxwell, were on hand during the discussion,.
Hunter criticized Republican Congressman Dave Reichert, whose district includes Bellevue, for not attending the town hall meeting.
“It’s pathetic,” Hunter said. “This is the most interesting issue in America. It’s crazy he’s unwilling to listen to his constituents. I think the citizens deserve to hear direct from Dave.”
Reichert has held three telephone meetings on health-care reform since June. He uses the telephone method so constituents can participate without leaving their homes, according to an aide from his office.
