LINCOLN — Nearly 200 people gathered Thursday night at the steps of the Nebraska Capitol to deliver one message: Allow a congressional vote on health care legislation.
“We need this substantive, comprehensive reform to be able to do what we need to do,” said Rick Poore, a Lincoln business owner.
Poore and several other speakers urged Nebraska Sens. Ben Nelson and Mike Johanns to vote to advance the proposed health care plan to the Senate floor. A procedural vote to allow debate and a final vote on the measure is scheduled for Saturday. Sixty votes will be needed.
Among those at Thursday’s rally was Tom Scherer of Lincoln who buys health insurance for his adult son. Scherer said rising health insurance costs have made it too costly for people such as his son.
Affordable health care should be accessible to everyone, said Jeremiah Quintin, who drove from Kearney, Neb., to attend the rally.
“It’s about two-hour drive, but totally worth it if we can get this to pass,” Quintin said, pausing to cheer after a car horn sounded. “We need to have that reform.”
Across the four-lane street, about 50 people joined in songs and chants voicing their opposition. While waving an American flag, Butch Hughes said he doesn’t support the government making health care decisions.
“I’m here because irresponsible government leads to irresponsible health,” Hughes said.
The Hastings, Neb., man said he supported Republican Johanns’ announcement that he plans to vote against advancing the bill to debate in the Senate. Democrat Nelson has not said how he would vote on advancing the bill.
Supporters of the procedural vote planned to deliver a message to both senators’ Lincoln offices after the rally, said Priscilla Pekas, who helped organize the event with the Nebraska chapter of Change That Works.
The message, Parks said: “Don’t forget the people you represent and how many of them need health care.”
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