Walden speaks to Nyssa crowd
BY Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Sunday, July 19, 2009 12:45 AM PDT
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| Larry Meyer | Argus Observer
U.S. Congress Greg Walden addresses a packed house at the Twilight Cafe in Nyssa, Saturday morning. |
NYSSA —U.S. Rep. Greg Walden met with Malheur County residents Saturday morning at the Twilight Cafe in Nyssa, and one of the main topics of discussion proved to be health care in the United States.
Walden talked about his concerns regarding the proposed health care legislation and mentioned he is restricted from submitting an alternative plan.
Walden was on a quick swing through Eastern Oregon during the weekend and opened the session with remarks on the budget.
“The No. 1 issue is the economy,” Walden said and expressed his reservations about whether the $780 billion stimulus package is creating the necessary jobs in the short-term.
Giving examples of some ways the money was being spent, Walden said one city was given $500,000 to help the homeless, money the community, which does not have any homeless, did not request. Washington, D.C. secured $3 million in stimulus funds for setting up the smart bicycle program in an affluent neighborhood, he said.
Commenting more on the cost of the current stimulus, Walden said there will not be a yearly deficit less than $500 billion for the next 10 years.
“How do we pay for this?” he asked rhetorically. “I still believe in a balanced budget amendment. Unemployment is still going up.”
Walden then talked more about health care.
“I believe everyone has a right to health care,” Walden said, adding that he does not agree that government should be taking it over.
That is what the proposed Democratic health care bill does and still leaves millions without coverage, he said.
“It’s full government take over of health care,” he said, adding it does not decrease the costs. “It actually takes it the other direction.”
Walden said America is writing a check for health care it will not be able to cash.
“In essence, we are putting together a program we can’t afford,” he said. Walden suggested tax credits for small business owners to help provide health care coverage for their employees, tort reform and elimination of unnecessary procedures, as some ways to streamline the system and reduce costs.
However, he was asked by Glenn Dodge, Ontario physical therapist, what the health care plan alternatives are, suggesting the creation of an association health plan may be one solution, but then he still has two choices for coverage.
“There is no competition,” Dodge said.
“That is what is key,” Walden agreed.
Walden said he believes all Americans should be able to secure reliable health care.
“Everybody should have access to health care,” Walden said. “The issue is: How do we pay for it?”
He said he would also like to see transparency in health care.
“Who does the best job in treatment?” Walden said.
June Hartley, Nyssa, Republican Party activist, said people want to know what the Republicans in Congress are doing besides just “voting no.”
Walden said the majority Democrats are in charge and under the current Speaker of House, the Republicans are restricted from submitting alternative amendments on the floor of the House.
“That right has been taken away,” he said.
The only chance to make change is to offer amendments in committee.
However, he said the Republicans, when they were in power, had similar measures.
Asked about the Food Safety Act, Walden, who sits on the committee investigating food safety issues which has oversight on food safety agencies said, “The Food and Drug Administration is outdated, outmoded and underfunded.”
What the act does is provide more inspectors and the agency more authority to conduct inspections and look at company records,” he said.
“You won’t see the FDA on farms and ranches,” he said. “But, I don’t want to see an escape clause. There has to be a balance.”
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