August 19, 2009

• Phillip Holds Healthcare Town Hall, Griffith Rests from Israel Trip

  

  Les Phillip

  DECATUR–Les Phillip held the second in a series of at least three town halls in Alabama’s 5th Congressional District this evening as Rep Parker Griffith (D-AL) rested at home after returning from his fact-finding mission in Israel. Ed Henry, running for Alabama House District 9, also fielded questions from the audience.

  Phillip’s opening remarks began with “I am a right-wing, gun totin’, Bible believing Christian,” reiterating his Constitutional platform. Talking about the Second Amendment, the crowd cheered Les’ comment, “I have three daughters. I have many guns.”

  Though Les encouraged the attendees to screen candidates via the Constitution, Ed Henry had a shocking personal story to tell.

  “I went to public school and college. I took an oath to defend and protect the Constitution but I didn’t know what was in this document.”

  When asked if the Affordable Health Care for All Americans Act reimburse hospitals for the treatment they give to people who can’t pay, Ed explained that it isn’t that cut and dry.

  “If you go to the doctor’s office, they have to charge you what they bill the insurance company. But the insurance company only pays out at about 10% of that cost. Because of this, people go to the ER and that’s where the problem is.”

  Phillip stressed that we need to improve the system, not overhaul it. Les strongly advocated allowing health insurance companies to sell across State lines.

  “By allowing health insurance companies to sell across State lines, they can no longer hold people captive to higher prices inside a State. Competition and the Free Market will drive costs down.”

  

  Ed Henry

  As the meeting continued, the candidates’ personal stories were told. Ed had an antecedent about lobbyists.

  “I was invited down to Montgomery to meet lobbyists because ‘you’ll need their money to get elected.’ I met more than thirty lobbyists. Of those, only two weren’t scumbags, but I only got to talk to those two for ten minutes.”

  Les told about his first flight at the age of six.

  “My mother made sure I met the pilot. I asked him what it takes to be one. He said, ‘Three things: Excel in maths and sciences, stay out of trouble and fly for either the Air Force or the Navy’. And that’s what shaped who my friends were and what I did growing up.”

  Les Phillip’s next health care town hall is scheduled for Thursday night in Florence’s McFarland Park at 6 p.m.

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