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Edwards plans health care meetings in district
U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, has announced that he will be involved in a series of health care meetings with constituents throughout his district for the next three weeks.
His telephone town hall meeting is scheduled for 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday.
The release from his office is below.
U.S. Representative Chet Edwards today announced a series of health care meetings with constituents throughout his district on the topic of health care over the next three weeks. Edwards will hold a telephone town hall meeting on Thursday August 20th from 6:30-8:00pm that will dial over 200,000 homes in all twelve District 17 counties.
Later in the month, Edwards will hold three regional town halls in Brazos, McLennan, and Johnson counties. Dates and locations for regional town hall meetings will be announced once details are finalized. From Monday through Saturday of this week, he will have 19 meetings with doctors, nurses, hospitals, small businesses, working families, community leaders and local journalists.
“I intend to spend the next three weeks carefully listening to health care providers and everyday citizens in our district about what the proposed health care reforms would mean for them and their families. I will not vote for a single-payer, Canadian-style nationalized health care plan, and before I make any commitment on any health care legislation in Congress, I want to hear the views and concerns of as many constituents as possible. That is why I made it clear earlier this month that I would not support a vote on health care in the U.S. House before Members of Congress had a chance to carefully review the legislation and to listen to constituents,” commented Edwards.
“In addition to the intensive health care schedule we had planned weeks ago, including a telephone town hall call to over 200,000 homes in twelve counties, I am adding three regional public town hall meetings. While I had some initial concerns about a handful of people disrupting the discussion, the overriding principle for me is to allow district constituents the opportunity to ask questions, have their voices heard, and participate in an honest dialogue on health care.
“Over the last several days, a number of protesters have agreed with me that it would be inappropriate to disrupt public meetings on health care. I appreciated their comments and hope they will keep their commitment to respect the rights of all citizens to be heard.
“The issue of health care is vitally important to our families, businesses and nation’s future. By having open, honest and respectful discussions, I hope we can further the cause of protecting the strengths of our present health care system while addressing the concerns of rising health care costs,” concluded Edwards.
Permalink | Comments (28) | Post your comment | Categories: Hot stories, Chet Edwards, Health, Politics
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By Sherri
August 17, 2009 9:05 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Chet - I believe you have made a wise decision to hold town halls. Everyone should have the opportunity to express to you their feelings on the Health Care Issue. I hope that those that attend will be respectful!
By Law N Order
August 17, 2009 9:07 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
I commend Congressman Edwards for changing his mind and incorporating face-to-face town hall meetings in his constitutent meeting plans. There has been rancor and disrespect on both side of the healthcare issue. I do hope that we all can participate in public discourse and practice disagreeing without being disagreeable to one another. I also thank all those that emailed, called and wrote Congressman Edwards to convey their opinions about his initial telephone town hall plans.
By BL
August 17, 2009 9:17 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
The meetings are needed. It will be interesting to see if he can actually talk about specifics of HR 3200 or will he work from the talking points cards given to him by the Speaker’s office.
The question is whether Chet will vote the interests of his constituents or will he vote the way Nancy Pelosi and President Obama want him to.
A big government taxpayer solution is not the answer.
By Toby Marie
August 17, 2009 9:23 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Open Message to Congressman Edwards:
The Waco Tea Party members have pledged all along to participate in a constructive public town hall. We have repeatedly stated our stance concerning town halls: Participants should be able to ask questions in a civil manner and to have our Representative answer those questions.
Many of us have read HR 3200 and have concerns and questions regarding sections of the bill.
We would also like for citizens to provide feed back and input on what they would like to see reformed in the health care industry.
We appreciate the opportunity to ask questions and have a discussion about Health Care reform, separating fact from fiction.
We sincerely appreciate Congressman Edwards understanding that the actions of some independent protesters do not reflect the ideals of Waco Tea Party members.
The Waco Tea Party
By BL
August 17, 2009 9:23 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
The meetings are needed. It will be interesting to see if he can actually talk about specifics of HR 3200 or will he work from the talking points cards given to him by the Speaker’s office.
The question is whether Chet will vote the interests of his constituents or will he vote the way Nancy Pelosi and President Obama want him to.
A big government taxpayer solution is not the answer.
By KDF
August 17, 2009 9:27 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Respect will be expected, I’m sure. I would not hold a town hall meeting after what I’ve seen, grown-ups acting like children. And BL, give the representative some credit. You are assuming (maybe rightfully, we’ll find out) that there is only one vote for Mr. Edwards, and that the other vote is a cave-in to Pres Obama and HS Pelosi. Chet does listen to his constituents and usually votes that way. <><
By Hungry Jack
August 17, 2009 9:45 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
CHICKEN.
By KDF
August 17, 2009 9:48 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Hungry Jack and CHICKEN. Now I am going to Churches for some fried bird at lunch. Thanks, HJ!! <><
By Larry Davis
August 17, 2009 9:57 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
I assume Edwards has read HR 3200. He should be able to stand up NOW and declare that under no circumstances would he support that piece of legislation. How could such a scary piece of legislation even make it to the public discourse? Edwards and his colleagues on both sides of the aisle should have put an end to this a long time ago in a bipartisan show of support for Ameica
By David
August 17, 2009 10:11 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Larry: I hope you’re at the town hall and listen to the discussion. The health care reform bill is a very good bill.
Among other benefits for people like you and me who have insurance is this bill will prevent your insurer from dropping coverage on you because you get sick (I know people this happened to, it sucks, you pay in for years and they dump you when its time for them to pay out). That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Despite all of the out-right falsehoods being bandied about (Death Panels, socialized medicine, etc) this bill has none of those things. It’s simply health insurance reform that is long overdue.
By Kari
August 17, 2009 12:32 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
I hope people will take the time out and listen instead of assuming things or going off of hearsay and I totally agree with you David. Sometimes you need to just open your ears and not your mouth. Always fact check first and I personally think alot of the people who are arguing at these meetings probably never ever attempted to get any type of health coverage they just want to disagree with anything Mr Obama tries to do because he wasn’t there guy. So hopefully we won’t have to here about the woulda,shoulda,coulda’s if this bill is not passed! I know I’m long winded but I need this bill to be passed I’m 21 with ovarian cancer I NEED ALL THE HELP I CAN GET!
By Angie
August 17, 2009 12:42 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
The Burleson Tea Party has expressed the need for Congressman Chet Edwards to hold a town hall meeting, so that constituents of D17 are able to voice their concerns about Nationalized Healthcare, with our Congressman. Constituents of D17 should be able to attend town hall meetings with Congressman Edwards in a civil tone. Congressman Edwards will be met with respect as long as the same is given to Constituents of D17, that reside in Johnson Co. Many of us have read HR 3200 and we look forward to discussing the bill with our Congressman.
We truly hope that upon meeting with Constituents of D17, Congressman Edwards will take our message back to Washington and do what his Constituents want, not what Obama, Pelosi and Reid want. We are aware that “public option” may or may not be on the table, but as we have seen with the current administration, things said, change on a daily basis. This leads Americans to be skeptical as a possible deploy and we are watching.
We look forward to hearing of a specific date, time and location, from Congressman Edwards, of a Town Hall meeting with Congressman Edwards here in Johnson Co., as he has stated in this press release, that he will do.
By El Diablo
August 17, 2009 1:08 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Honest, civil disagreement is what America is built on and what keeps us strong as a nation.
Any loudmouths who start raising hell and disrupting meetings should be darted & carted.
By The Real Truth
August 17, 2009 2:35 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Being a Libertarian, I like what I have read here.
This is what I posted as a retort to the article about Kay Bailey Hutchison opposing term limits and talking about Health Care Reform. My apologies to anyone who feels it’s a repeat.
If you would bother to check your facts, the poorly educated tend to vote for Democrats.
I also disagree with your statement that Democrats want “equity in healthcare.” There is NOBODY….. Mark my words, NOBODY who is going without health care as I type this.
ANYONE can walk into a hospital emergency room and receive FREE medical care. Regardless of their insurance status. Regardless of their immigration status. Regardless of their income status. Those of us who have health insurance indirectly pay for them.
You want REAL reform? Deny care for non-citizens. Limit the ceiling for medical malpractice lawsuits. Allow tax breaks for people who buy thier own insurance just as businesses now enjoy. Encourage Health Savings Accounts. Allow cross-state medical insurance coverage. I can buy my car insurance from any number of companies doing business in any state. Why shouldn’t health insurance be the same?
I look forward to your response should you choose to do so.
Respectfully,
The REAL TRUTH!
ps: I’m ALL for term limits. A senate or representative seat was NEVER meant by the founders to be a full time job. They saw it as a person sacrificing their time to represent their constituents for a while, then going back to their “REAL” job. Just doing their civic duty. They’d roll over in their graves if they knew what we have in Washington, DC today.
By Tank
August 17, 2009 3:23 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
RE: Real Truth, education. The opposite is true as well.
“Liberals have the highest education level of any typology group 49% are college graduates and 26% have some postgraduate education.”
Source: http://people-press.org/report/?pageid=945
By ice
August 17, 2009 4:54 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Let’s dart and cart El Diablo
By Turnipseed
August 17, 2009 5:54 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Mr. Edwards, just one question from an evil-monger. Are you in favor of tort reform in any type of health reform bill? That’s it. Yes or no.
By Mike Yankie
August 17, 2009 5:57 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Thank you Rep. Edwards, only good can come from a real town hall meeting on health care. Now, if you can get Josh to not to make false statements to the press (I only saw one flier taped to the elevator wall on Friday, Aug 14th… it was for a benefit for a deputy sheriffs ill son). I also applaud you for not supporting a single payer healthcare system. Tort reform and caps on medical malpractice insurance would really make a difference in healthcare cost.
on another subject, the time has come for term limits for elected officials. Too many career politicinas have lost touch and become a cancer in the government that is supposed to be “for the people, by the people”!!!
By Worried
August 17, 2009 6:05 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
My concern is if this bill passes I am out of a job as well as a lot of other people. Before elections Obama stated he will be saving jobs and creating new jobs for people. Well if this passes I will not only be out of a job I will probably end up losing my home as well due to I will not have the income to pay for it after I have worked so hard and so many years to have it. I also am strongly against tax payer funded abortions which I hear is included in this bill. I am strongly against abortion and I feel it is not right to force someone to partake in something that is against their religion. Yes, I did have a child out of wed lock when I was 19 years old. I accepted the responsibility and kept my daughter and raised her the best way I knew how. We struggled but we survived. She was never in trouble with the law and has since graduated high school and is now in college studying to be a nurse. I am so very proud of her and the woman she has become. This child was a blessing from God and never in a million years would I destroy something that was given to me by God. I am glad Chet Edwards has elected to have a town hall meeting. I hope and pray he will make the right decision.
By Flip Flop
August 17, 2009 6:08 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Just an observation about the politeness of many of you supporting respect and dignity in the town hall meetings. Why didn’t you give President Bush the same respect as Commander in Chief throughout the Iraq War? You of Code Pink and Move-On.org. What a bunch of hypocrites. Does KARMA ring a bell?
By Taco
August 17, 2009 7:01 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Wow, it looks like his “set” dropped!!!! Josh, you need to quit being a puppet….
By Mexican Joe
August 17, 2009 7:06 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Hey, her supreme majesty Nancy Pelosi said, three years ago, that she admires disrupters, so….People, don’t let yourselves be coaxed into accepting anything geared towards perpetrating a socialist society. You’ll be sorry.
By Kevin
August 17, 2009 8:18 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Don’t let him fool you: He’s still a politician! Why do you think he changed his mind? He heard what people were saying and knew it would hurt him politically if he didn’t show up. I give him no credit at all for “changing his mind”!
By John
August 17, 2009 9:21 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
People don’t care about health care. We want to know why Obama has never shown a birth certificate! Is Chet Edwards going to continue the coverupabout Obama’s birth? What does Obama have on him to keep him from talking? We need one of our own kind in the White house. We need Republicans in office who are the only ones who realize this is a REPUBLIC of LAWS!
By B
August 17, 2009 11:20 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Yes Chet, we have agreed with you “that it would be inappropriate to disrupt public meetings on health care.” Now, maybe you can agree with us that bills should be read, and understood before being voted on; last minute amendments should not be thrown in; and out of control spending needs to stop. Quoting a sign outside of a town hall meeting…”You won an election, not the Lottery*”.
By bill
August 18, 2009 9:25 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
we need to all go and hear Chet take credit for changing Obama’s mind.
By charles Needham
August 18, 2009 2:37 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
I am surprised, but gratified, that Chet Edwards is finally willing to speak out against “disruptive” elements. Such comments would have been especially welcome while his constituents, the good people of Crawford, were being subjected, for over a month in 1995, to real disruptions by Cindy Sheehan and her cohorts in the Marxist-Leninist Workers World Party, Revolutionary Communist Party, United for Peace and Justice, Code Pink, etc. (These “disrupters” were there to make life miserable, not just for the good people of McLennan County, but also for another prominant constituent of Chet Edwards: President G. W. Bush). Nancy Pelosi severed her relations with Cindy Sheehan; however, she found a new friend in Chet Edwards. As reported August 3, 2008 (CNN), the San Franciso Speaker said, “I didn’t want to see a discussion of candidates for vice president [with Barack Obama] without showing the House of representatives…I just wanted people to be aware of the extraodinary credentials of Chet Edwards. And I hope he will be the nominee.”
Perhaps the country would have been better off if Ms. Pelosi’s dream had come true and Chet Edwards were no longer the congressman representing McLennan County. This was probably the only time Ms. Pelosi and I will have shared a common dream.
By Big Ron
August 19, 2009 3:45 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
I just got a call from Chet Edwards saying if that I wanted to participate in tommorow’s phone-in town hall to be by my phone at 6:30 pm. Wonder what my phone bill will be after staying on the line for two hours?