[Vision2020] Minnick Discusses Health Care Position at Town Hall

[the lockshop]

It's good to live in Idaho! The rabid "progressives" won't support anything 
short of a Ted Kennedy/John Kerry ideological soul mate and as a result we 
get one term conservative/libertatian "dino's" such as Mr. Minnick (a dem I 
can live with) or a Republican. Is this a great state or what?

g
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
To: "Moscow Vision 2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 5:56 AM
Subject: [Vision2020] Minnick Discusses Health Care Position at Town Hall


> Courtesy of today's (August 27, 2009) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------
>
> Minnick discusses health care position at town hall
> Congressman finds mostly polite crowd in Moscow despite controversy
> elsewhere in Idaho
>
> Congressman Walt Minnick drew mixed but mostly polite reviews while
> discussing health care reform and defending his voting record at a Moscow
> town hall meeting on Wednesday evening.
>
> The freshman 1st District Democrat took questions from a crowd of roughly
> 200 people at the 1912 Center for nearly two hours. The event was
> sponsored by the Latah County Democrats.
>
> Outside, the flag stood at half mast in honor of the late liberal icon and
> health care reform advocate Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. Inside, one the
> party's most recognizable conservative and self-described "Blue Dogs"
> defended his opposition to current Democratic proposals for health care
> reform, particularly the controversial public health insurance option.
>
> Though critical at times, the questions and tenor of the meeting remained
> subdued, standing in contrast Minnick's meeting before 600 people in Coeur
> d'Alene the previous evening that drew more emotional responses in
> positive and negative directions.
>
> "The fact that there is such an intense interest ... is a most encouraging
> sign that democracy is alive and well," he said. "It's very refreshing."
>
> Minnick said his opposition to the public option stems from concerns over
> increasing the deficit and said he would vote against the 1,047 page bill
> produced by the U.S. House of Representatives.
>
> "I'm not going to vote for any legislation that digs the debt ... deeper,"
> he said.
>
> Instead, Minnick said he would like to focus on reforms in the private
> sector, such as giving small businesses more competitive insurance options
> as well as exploring preventive, lifestyle-changing measures to reduce
> obesity and smoking.
>
> "I'd like to give free enterprise another chance," he said.
>
> Unlike the many of the raucous, largely anti-public-option town hall
> meetings other members of Congress have faced, Minnick had the unique
> challenge of defending his position to a room full of people mostly in
> favor of the proposal.
>
> Many of the questions from the crowd centered on Minnick's overall voting
> record. He has raised eyebrows in Idaho and Washington, D.C., by breaking
> from the party ranks on several key votes over the eight months he has
> been in office. He voted against bailouts for the auto and financial
> industries, the stimulus package and other spending bills sponsored by the
> majority party.
>
> Moscow resident Rose Huskey gave one of the more forceful repudiations of
> Minnick's positions.
>
> "Based on your voting record, what liberal-progressive Democrat would
> support you in (the 2010 election)?" she asked.
>
> University of Idaho Political Science Department Chairman Don Crowley was
> also critical of Minnick, particularly on the public option.
>
> "I don't agree with (your views), but I do appreciate your honesty,"
> Crowley said.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------
>
> Unless Bill Sali re-enters the political ring in 2010, I will NOT be
> voting for Walt Minnick.
>
> Seeya at Farmers' Market, Moscow.
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
> and the Realist adjusts his sails."
>
> - Unknown
>
>
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