Channel 6 was there. Where were you?  Rep. Tim Walz sent two members of his staff to meet concerned voters Tuesday, Sept. 23, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Room 109 of City Hall.  Between 20 and 30 people came to ask questions and voice their concerns. 

Most questions asked and opinions offered were on the subject of health care and how the proposed bill is going to work. Each person was allowed to voice their concern and some were quiet and reasonable but some were very vociferous to downright rude. One man sitting next to me nearly hit me in the face, waving his arms around. There was one person who yelled “You lie!” as we have heard in other gatherings.

The crowd at 2:30 were mostly older people, no doubt concerned about how their Medicare would be affected. Later in the meeting (after work, perhaps?) some younger people showed up. They complained of working as hard as they can and still they cannot afford insurance for their family. One lady said her company offered her insurance but the premiums for her family would take almost her whole paycheck! Another lady quoted the difference in costs of medical supplies, comparing the prices charged by medical facilities and the much lower prices at a store or on eBay.

I attended the meeting mostly to ask about the legality of “negative option marketing.” I told him of an insurance company welcomg me into their company and saying they will take $24.90 out of my checking account each month as premium. I never heard of the company and did not want the insurance so I finally called the 800 number it offered and did get a “cancellation number” The recent AARP Bulletin warned of such scams and I fear for people who toss the letter, considering it junk mail, and not calling to cancel. Matt was concerned enough to ask me for copies of the letter and the article.

Some veterans were there voicing the hope that Albert Lea will get the veterans’ clinic, which has been considered.

At the end of the session, Matt garnered a consensus that we are all concerned about health care, and although we may disagree on how it should work, we know there has to be changes.

 
Joyce Rhody

Albert Lea

Editor’s note: Sometimes at meetings with Walz’s staff (and no Walz), zero or few citizens show up. In this case, it sounds like we should have attended. Thank you for your report, and, of course, if and when Walz himself comes to Albert Lea to discuss health care, we will be there.