Would-be governor brings health care debate home

U.S. Senator Sam Brownback called a town meeting for the people of southwestern Kansas yesterday — and the people came.
    In fact, Dodge City Community College's theater was so packed that people stood in the aisles. The college went all out to welcome Brownback, who has his eye on the governor's office, but is, like most Congressional minority members, pounding the home pavement in an effort to defeat the Obama administration's health care reform bill.
    Brownback's message wasn't a hard sell for this particular crowd. He was on his home turf, and almost everyone was happy to see him.
    Plenty of people had something to say, and they didn't mind standing in line to say it. Brownback fielded questions and comments with confidence and ease, and even got a laugh from DCCC students when he asked how many had showed up just for class credit.
"That doesn't count," Brownback told the students.
    But students were the minority in the DCCC Theater yesterday. People of all ages crowded in, wearing everything from business suits to jeans.  
    Most of the audience questions and comments touched on national health care and the Kansas economy. Brownback's strong opposition to President Barack Obama's universal health plan was greeted by frequent applause.
    "If we socialize medicine during a time of heavy national debt that also coincides with the Baby Boomers retiring, we're headed for disaster," he told the crowd. "Do we really want the government involved in our health care? Do we want to wait our turn for treatment — that's socialism."
    Most of the audience answered Brownback with prolonged and loud applause.
    A young father described the life-saving medical treatment provided to his two-year-old son, comparing the child to a European boy who died from the same disease.
    "He died because his treatment was delayed," said the father. "It wasn't his turn."

Not everyone agrees
    However, some voices of dissent were heard.
    "I'm on socialized medicine," Dodge City school board president Dan Reichenborn told Brownback. "It's called Medicare. I never have to wait, I choose my own doctors, and I get excellent care. Why should younger people be denied the same thing?"
    Brownback reiterated the prohibitive cost factors involved, and complimented Reichenborn on USD 443 schools.
    A few more expressions of opposition came from the floor. The director of the Center for Independent Living asked Brownback to consider the concept of choice as it applies to disabled people when their services are cut.
    A young man asked Brownback if he would have voted for Medicare, had he been in Congress when the program was created.
    "That's a very thoughtful question," replied Brownback. "I have to think about that. It was a very different time back then — I just don't know.'
    A woman asked Brownback to comment on the plight faced by many fully insured Americans.
    "Plenty of people face bankruptcy due to medical costs, because insurance companies refuse to pay," she said. "I'm not talking about Medicaid. I'm talking about working people with full coverage — the insurance companies just turn them down."
    Brownback said that he was not aware of this practice as a widespread problem, and that he would have to see some examples before forming an opinion.

When he's governor
    The crowd really got hopping when talk turned to Brownback's run for the governor's seat. His brisk, take-charge recipe for the state's economic health was met with cheers.
    "We can get this economy rolling if we put our minds to it and work together," he said. "We need to develop the gas, bio defense, tourism and animal health industries. Kansas has to grow, and it will only happen through a bi-partisan effort. We're only one percent of the nation's population — we can't afford to fight with one another."

Mr. Brownback goes back to Washington
     After another optimistic admonition to work together, Brownback wound up the town hall meeting. People streamed out, some pausing to talk to Brownback, state senator Tim Huelskamp or DCCC president Richard Burke.
    After the last person had left, Burke sat down in the lobby of the theater, holding a plate of lemon squares he was delivering to his office staff.
     "I'm so pleased by how many people came," he said. "This was a significant event for our college, and hosting events like this one is one of the roles all colleges should play. We would welcome other candidates from either party to come and have an open exchange of ideas."