So, tonight my husband and I had just finished up dinner when we received a phone call. The ANI showed the call originated from Washington D.C., and because I'm somewhat cynical, and assumed it was a pre-recorded message from a politician or someone soliciting funds, I decided to pick up and was ready with some snarky back talk.
Turns out that once I picked up the phone I was routed into a live town hall about health care reform with Arizona Congressman Harry Mitchell who was hosting the call from D.C. I couldn't believe it! People from what is known in the East Valley in the Phoenix area asked the Congressman questions about the proposed healthcare reform and how it would affect their coverage and their pocketbooks. While he didn't provide hard numbers -- at least not while on the call -- he did provide solid information about pre-existing conditions, small businesses and the competitive nature of the proposed health care reform plan. I stayed on the call until they ran out of time and left a few questions on the message box, which Mitchell encouraged people to do at the end of the call.
Frankly, I couldn't believe it. Incredible! Great idea! I was wondering -- have other women from around the country received phone calls like this? If so, what were they like?
And if you had to ask your Congressman or Congresswoman questions about the proposed health care reform, what would those questions be?
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I was also on that phone call. They broke in during the call to ask my name and what my question was. Were they screening questions? When I said I was still formulating my question.......I never got moved forward, and then the call was stopped. No one asked any hard questions...it was just a love fest and he promised everything to everyone.
July 25, 2009 - 9:55amWhat about the governments ability to run anything successfully (post office, medicare, etc. )?
what about rationing of care? What about funding (increased taxes or taxing existing policy holders medical expenses? What about the illegial aliens getting free healthcare....I was ashamed that Harry Mitchell represents me. What about the hidden provisions of a medical school for "the disinfranchised"?
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I got a recorded message call the day before (7/22/09) saying Mitchell is holding an open phone town hall on the health care issues/proposals. The message said they would call back the next evening and I could be patched into the call and ask questions. I agree, this is an amazing attempt to use technology to connect with constituents and quite impressive. Sadly, last night (7/23/09) when I was supposed to receive the call, it never came. I don't know what happened :( but I imagine that would have been pretty new to try and coordinate. I searched the internet today to see if I could find out what was discussed, and this is the only thing I can find. Nothing is on Michell's web site yet about the consensus / peoples comments & questions.
July 24, 2009 - 9:22pmThis Comment
Hi Tina-- I think it's great that you got a phone call from a live town hall meeting. I didn't even know that was possible. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be getting one of those calls since we don't have a land line number, just cell phones.
Hope you learned a lot and got to ask questions!
July 24, 2009 - 5:44amThis Comment