WMC-TV 5 - Memphis, TNCorker talks health care reform at town hall meeting

Corker talks health care reform at town hall meeting

By Ben Watson - bio | email | Twitter | Facebook

COVINGTON, TN (WMC-TV) - Health care reform was the hot topic at a town hall meeting held by Tennessee Senator Bob Corker in Covington Wednesday.

Corker picked Covington to launch the first of 29 town hall meetings in different counties throughout Tennessee, and it didn't take long for the audience to hear Corker's stand on the President's proposed health care reform bill.

"My guess is the house bill will likely go in the trash can, okay?  It's just not practical, and doesn't stand the test," Corker said.

Corker said he believes the proposed health care bill is too expensive, and has too much government control.  Both points seemed to earn the senator a lot of support from the crowd of onlookers in Covington.

"Everything that the President has done so far is driving up costs," Corker said. "You know, when he began this debate, it was about driving down costs."

Tuesday's meeting in Covington was a sharp contrast to several other, more combative health care reform meetings held recently around the nation, including Memphis.  Emily Fulmer was the only person at Tuesday's meeting we heard challenge Corker.

"We've got to stop allowing private insurance companies to charge whatever they want," she said.

Fulmer, who heads up a pro health care reform organization called "Tennessee Health Care Campaign," said she's working to change Corker's mind, one town hall meeting at a time.

"He's got a great health care plan, so he doesn't have to pay for it," she said. "He's really not struggling like we are."

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