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Hillsdale Daily News: Walberg hosts town hall on 'Obamacare'

February 19, 2014

ADRIAN — As the Affordable Care Act continues to frustrate many and help others, U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) held the first of two town hall meetings scheduled this week to discuss his plan for repealing "Obamacare" and fixing the country's health care system.

Speaking to a room of roughly 60 people, Walberg took questions, presented his argument and led a panel of speakers who shared stories of how the law has impacted their lives during the meeting at the City of Adrian Chambers Monday.

"We have a debate that's going on and I think an important debate about where this country moves forward on the most intimate, important area of an individual's life," Walberg said.

Walberg has repeatedly stated his disapproval for the law and believes there must be changes made to the system in order to better help the American people. The best way to change that system, according to Walberg, is to completely repeal the law and start with a new plan.

That plan includes lifting the full-time employment minimum from 30 hours to 40 hours so more employers can continue to employ workers without cutting their hours down below 30 per week. Walberg said he also would like to see expanded health-savings accounts, high-risk pools that allow for help with pre-existing conditions and putting an end to frivolous lawsuits.

He also said that opening the boundries and allowing for citizens to shop health-care rates in other states would increase competition amongst providers and in turn cause rates to drop for buyers.

"(The problem) wasn't the health care, it was the cost," Walberg said.

Among the panelists who spoke Monday were business owners, private citizens and insurance providers who explained how the ACA has caused financial problems for them and their families. The most powerful story was that of Tracey Barron, 63, of Adrian who has a 14-year-old son with mental health issues. Barron said she cannot find affordable health care and has been denied for Medicare. She became extremely upset on stage and began crying as she explained the problems her family has encountered while trying to get help for her son.

Small business owner Wynn Esterline said he has had to cut hours for many of his employees to below 30 hours a week to avoid having to pay more taxes and penalties on health care costs. He also said that once he cuts hours, many employees have to seek second or third jobs in order to make ends meet. It also creates scheduling issues for him and the employee as they try to find a way to accommodate the employee's schedulers with multiple jobs.

Walberg admitted there are plenty of people in his district that have been helped by the healthcare law, but the majority of communication he receives is geared toward the negative side of Obamacare.

Dr. Victoria Powell of Adrian spoke up during the question and answer section of the meeting and said the only system that is working in this country is Medicare and that it should be an example of how the national health care system could work.

"Medicare for all is single payer. We are chasing after costs," Powell said. "There is no control over costs. This law that exists at least covers all of us who have a pre-existing condition."

Walberg will host another town hall meeting Thursday in Coldwater at the CHC Community Care & Conference Center, located at 370 E. Chicago Street, Suite 500.

To read the original article at Hillsdale News, click here.

Issues:Health Care