The Health Care Debate Rages On, Are You Up-To-Date?

The healthcare debate has been, well...confusing. With a lot of disinformation, yelling, and emotion, it is hard to ignore, and harder to understand.

Congress is heading toward floor debate on health care reform...the furthest the U.S. has ever gotten in passing a significant reform of our health insurance system.

Here's just some of what's happening now:
U.S. Senate: Working to combine two committee bills
U.S. House: Working to combine three committee bills; awaiting analyses from Congressional Budget Office
Insurance Industry: On the offensive with tv commercials and more

Tonight, though, you have the opportunity to learn more about it, hear from people who know what's up, and ask the tough questions.

Speakers include:
Sidney Watson, Professor of Law, St. Louis University - specializing in health law and health care access for the poor
John Carlton, Editorial Writer focusing on health care, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Amy Smoucha, Missouri Health Care for All and Health Care Organizer with Missouri Jobs with Justice
Moderator: Don Marsh, St. Louis Public Radio (KWMU)

The event is 7-8:30 at CRC

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Ok, so maybe you are interested in what Representative Carnahan had to say last night... That's why guest blogger @mrgeller wrote up what he heard last night.

A public option for healthcare coverage seems inevitable as part of the reform, according to Rep. Russ Carnahan, who greeted representatives of the Jewish community Wednesday evening. Healthcare reform and Middle East policy dominated discussion when the congressmen met with constituents in the Clayton home of Carl and Lynn Lyss, long-time activists of the Jewish community. After a brief introduction, and special note of involvement with the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, those in attendance were allowed to ask questions.
While the topics covered, including preventing a nuclear Iran and President Obama's statements on settlements in Israel, were some of the heated issues in the news, the congressman steered clear of any firm position statements. His commitment to Israel was evident; however, the congressman balanced this support by stressing the importance of Obama's engagement of the Muslim community through his speech in Cairo, Egypt, in early June.
The congressman is holding town-hall meetings to hear from constituents on issues related to health reform. He noted that this process has been interesting due to the interruptions now caused by protesters. He joked that it was an unofficial badge of honor among members of Congress to have made it onto several news programs and Internet video clips.
The next town hall meeting is tonight, August 6, at Bernard Middle School, 1054 Forder Road, St. Louis, Mo. The doors open at 6 p.m.
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