Senator Tom Harkin continued his tour across the state in Fort Dodge Wednesday, to discuss benefits of the proposed healthcare reform.
Instead of suggestions on how to make the plan better many in the crowd were critical.
"What can you tell us to give us confidence that you guys know what's best for us when I think all of us agree," said one member of the audience, "I don't care what party you're from, government doesn't do a good job of running these programs."
Harkin battled with members of the full capacity audience of 165 for over an hour on issues of cost, reliability and concerns surrounding the government led proposal.
Under the Senate's version of the bill all health, insurance companies would no longer be allowed to deny converge based on preexisting conditions; co-pays and deductible for preventative care such as physicals, mammograms and colonoscopies would be eliminated.
Harkin said despite harsh criticism the Fort Dodge the crowd was relatively calm compared to earlier visits this week.
He says he would like to hear less bickering and more suggestions on how to make the plan better.
"People that are protesting this bill, I can't get from them what they want," said Harkin, "I just asked that young man do you want the status quo, and he couldn't answer that; he said he wanted to keep his present plan. Well, our bill lets him keep his present plan."
Wednesday's stop was number five of six planned town hall meetings.
Harkin is visiting the state fair Thursday and will pick the health care debate back up in Mason City on Friday.
Instead of suggestions on how to make the plan better many in the crowd were critical.
"What can you tell us to give us confidence that you guys know what's best for us when I think all of us agree," said one member of the audience, "I don't care what party you're from, government doesn't do a good job of running these programs."
Harkin battled with members of the full capacity audience of 165 for over an hour on issues of cost, reliability and concerns surrounding the government led proposal.
Under the Senate's version of the bill all health, insurance companies would no longer be allowed to deny converge based on preexisting conditions; co-pays and deductible for preventative care such as physicals, mammograms and colonoscopies would be eliminated.
Harkin said despite harsh criticism the Fort Dodge the crowd was relatively calm compared to earlier visits this week.
He says he would like to hear less bickering and more suggestions on how to make the plan better.
"People that are protesting this bill, I can't get from them what they want," said Harkin, "I just asked that young man do you want the status quo, and he couldn't answer that; he said he wanted to keep his present plan. Well, our bill lets him keep his present plan."
Wednesday's stop was number five of six planned town hall meetings.
Harkin is visiting the state fair Thursday and will pick the health care debate back up in Mason City on Friday.
