Commissioners urge rejection of health care reforms
El Paso County commissioners urged Congress Thursday to oppose President Barack Obama’s proposed health care reforms that have produced shouting matches at town hall meetings across the country.
“This bill will have a grave impact on El Paso County citizens, the county health care plan and health services,” Commissioner Amy Lathen said. “Government will make decisions … on your health care. You will have nothing to say about it.”
Commissioners approved the resolution unanimously after hearing comments from about 15 people, most of whom backed the commissioners’ stance.
Lathen noted part of her job is to ensure a fertile environment for businesses, and the health care proposal would saddle the business community with additional costs for coverage or penalties for not providing it.
“Businesses will be under the thumb of the federal government,” she said.
Resident Marilyn Daniel said she has attended seven rallies in Colorado recently where the vast majority of attendees oppose the bill.
“This is a horrible thing. They tell us not to be frightened,” she said. “I’m scared to death.”
Del McIntyre sees a sinister intent behind the reforms.
“This is not a bill on health care,” he said. “This is a bill to take over this country. It’s tyranny. Health care doesn’t need to be fixed. Our health care is fantastic.”
But Wendy Dumas said the commissioners’ resolution contributes to “divisiveness in our community” and wrongly states everyone in the county opposes the bill.
The resolution states “that it is the sense of the County of El Paso, State of Colorado, that the United States should not pursue a public health insurance option …”
“It’s not how you commissioners should be spending your time,” Dumas said. “There’s more important things to do.”
Lathen countered that it’s the commissioners duty to “speak up and say, ‘We can’t afford it.’”
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Citizens clapped for The Board of County Commissioners of El Paso County at meeting in support of the commissioners resolution concerning federal bill HR3200. Thursday August 13th, 2009 Kirk Speer, The Gazette Photo by KIRK SPEER, THE GAZETTE
Marilyn Daniel, spoke at a County Commissioners of El Paso County meeting, in support of the commissioners resolution concerning federal bill HR3200. Thursday August 13th, 2009 Kirk Speer, The Gazette Photo by KIRK SPEER, THE GAZETTE
Wendy Dumas, was one of only a few voices that dissented with The Board of County Commissioners of El Paso County at meeting in support of the commissioners resolution concerning federal bill HR3200. She felt that the county is wrong in their assumption Photo by KIRK SPEER, THE GAZETTE