Perriello gets an earful about health care reform at Fluvanna Co. town hall

At yet another town hall meeting Thursday night in Albemarle County, U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello got an earful about health care reform.

“All I’m asking is: Let us have our choice,“ implored Dave Flynn of Fluvanna County. “Let me keep [my health insurance coverage] and not have to pay for somebody else’s.“

Thursday’s town hall meeting at Walton Middle School was the 18th such forum that Perriello has held during the August congressional recess, apparently more than any other congressman in the country.

Perriello told the crowd - which was widely and vocally against the health care reform proposal before Congress - that he does not yet support the measure, but he would if the final version holds the line on the federal deficit and reduces health insurance premiums.

“I’d really like to get to a yes on health care reform,“ Perriello said. “I believe that the status quo is bankrupting us.“

On several of the proposal’s most controversial points, Perriello said he has not yet made up his mind.

One such point, he said, is the question of a health insurance mandate. Should employers be required to cover employees? Should individuals be required to purchase coverage for themselves? Should things stay the same?

“This is one of the big questions that I’ve, frankly, been on the fence about,“ he said.

The status quo, Perriello said, is “essentially universal health care” because everyone - particularly the middle class and small business owners - are paying for the health care of the uninsured via higher health insurance premiums.

“The strongest argument for an individual mandate,“ he said, “is that we’re already stuck paying for other people’s insurance.“

Perriello added that he’s “not real crazy” about a mandate that requires businesses to cover employees.

The freshman Democrat also did not advocate strongly for a public health insurance option or the health care co-op idea currently being floated. Yet Perriello said that he likes the idea that an “exchange” where those who are currently uninsured can buy quality, affordable insurance has merit, as he believes it could increase competition and drive down premium costs.

“One of the biggest problems in the health care industry, I believe, is a lack of competition,“ he said.

Several people told Perriello that they do not trust the government to run any form of health insurance. The idea, they said, is simply a plan by President Barack Obama to erode the health care system and eventually implement universal health care.

Jason Buyaki, a resident of Stony Point, said government has shown that it cannot effectively operate the U.S. Postal Service, Medicare and Social Security. Why, he asked, does anyone believe the federal government could manage handling health care?

“I have no faith in the government,“ Buyaki said. “Now we’re going to have government run health care? I don’t think so.“

Perriello said he does not support a government takeover of the private health insurance industry. He supports, rather, allowing private health insurance providers to compete to cover the uninsured.

“To me, this is not whether the government is trying to take over health care, though I know that’s a concern for some,“ he said. “To me, it’s about whether we can fix some places where market failures have been.“

The crowd at Thursday’s forum was not entirely against the idea of a government-run public health insurance option. Several people shouted out their support for a single-payer system that covers everyone.

As attendees entered Walton Middle’s auditorium, they had the opportunity to sign a large banner with messages to Perriello.

One supporter wrote: “I’m proud that we got you elected. Please support single payer legislation for health care. Please support a strong public option at the very least.“

An opponent wrote: “Tom - who wrote this Bill? Why are communists working in Our Gov’t? Please represent US not Washington.“

Another wrote: “You’re a Jerk!“

Perriello thanked the crowd for coming out and said his plethora of town hall forums have been largely “intense, substantive and civil.“

“It’s been wonderful to see how engaged the public has been,“ he said.

The crowd grew fairly raucous at times Thursday night. Opponents drowned out Perriello’s responses to questions at several points.

One man in the back shouted “Impeach Obama” a couple times.

When Perriello tried to answer a question about his support of the cap-and-trade legislation, he was drowned out by chants of “Drill, Drill, Drill!“

Several others angrily dressed Perriello down, saying that he is not representing their interests in Congress.

Floyd Artrip, an Albemarle County resident and owner of an electronic equipment manufacturing company, said Perriello received numerous letters, faxes and e-mails against what Artrip calls the “cap-and-tax” bill, but Perriello still voted in favor of the measure.

“I don’t refer to you as congressman or representative because you do not represent your constituents,“ Artrip said. “My question is: What part of the word representative don’t you understand?“

Several people said they believe the health care system needs to be reformed, but do not support the proposal currently before Congress. A few of these speakers called for tort reform, which they said could limit medical malpractice damages and reduce health care costs. They also called for deregulation of the health insurance industry in such a way that would allow providers to compete across state lines, thereby increasing competition and lowering prices.