Health reform forum restrained

For nearly all of Sen. Ben Nelson's public meeting on health care, the emotional debate remained mainly at a low simmer.

Many of the 1,200 people who flocked Wednesday to the University of Nebraska Medical Center clearly had strong opinions, both pro and con, about the proposed health care overhaul. Some toted signs calling for either more or less government involvement.

Still, those who questioned Nelson during the hour-long event and listened to his low-key responses were generally polite and respectful, as they had been urged to be.

But tensions bubbled over when Nelson took a final question.

Given her chance to speak, Elaine Wells started by asking the audience whether they would refuse Medicare benefits when they turned 65. When only a few raised their hands, she began to make the case for eliminating private insurance and expanding government-run Medicare to cover everyone.

She didn't get far before she was drowned out by applause, jeers and shouts of “Read the Constitution!”

It was only a brief break in decorum — nothing like the wild shouting matches seen at some similar meetings around the nation — but it was a sign that passions on the issue run high.

Nelson, as a key centrist senator, has taken a prominent national role on health care. He asserts that changes are needed to control the nation's health costs and to close insurance coverage gaps, but he has not signed on to specific legislation.

“We're trying to find a way to make matters better,” he said. “What we don't need to do is find the wrong result.”

His cautious, middle-of-the-road approach hasn't insulated him from criticism. Opponents of the proposed overhaul grill him about the details — real and imagined — of the plans working through Congress, while those who want an increased government role blast him for staying on the fence.

Nelson joked Wednesday that he feels like the target in an arcade “Whac-A-Mole” game.

Turnout was swelled by people from both sides. About 300 people fit into the auditorium, with many seats taken by people who had attended a separate health care reform conference immediately before Nelson's appearance. That left less space for those who had lined up.

Another 300 watched the event on television from overflow spaces, while the rest could listen on loudspeakers outside. Nelson's staff took questions from people outside the auditorium and included some in the 22 questions Nelson answered.

Later, Nelson said he hadn't expected so many people to attend but said it made sense. Letters to his Senate office have more than doubled this year, with about 100,000 received so far.

“It didn't surprise me that people are that interested in it,” Nelson said. “It affects everybody.”

Nelson will take more questions at a similar meeting today in Lincoln.

Nelson said Wednesday that he wouldn't support a health care bill that extended health coverage to illegal immigrants or provided funding for abortion.

As for the government's role, Nelson noted that veterans, senior citizens and others already receive health benefits through popular federal programs. But he said he was not interested in doing anything that undermined the private industry health plans that most Americans use.

Nelson said he might support a government-run health plan as a fallback option for people who are not currently insured, but only if private plans do not provide competitive choices.

Audience members generally limited their outbursts to applause after Nelson or a questioner said something they liked.

Afterwards, however, it was clear they still had strong feelings about health care.

Amber Parker struggled to hold back tears when Nelson talked with her following the meeting. She remained concerned that abortion services might be allowed under the proposed legislation, despite Nelson's answers.

“He's a nice man,” she said later. “He was not rude. But I do not trust the people who created this bill.”

And Wells, who had attempted to ask the final question, said she still prefers a single government-run program over for-profit insurance plans. She's not happy that Nelson, who has a background in the insurance industry, doesn't agree. And she was disappointed he didn't spell out exactly what he would support.

“I thought he was pretty evasive,” Wells said.

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