Constituents of Congressman Bob Latta want answers and are not shy asking for them. During yesterday’s ‘Lets Get it Done’ protest, more than 50 citizens within Ohio’s Fifth District vehemently protested in front of Latta’s Bowling Green office to give insight on why the United States needs health care reform. ‘I would like to see a plan that ensures everybody can get health insurance’hellip;and doesn’t wipe out all of your family savings and put you in debt forever,’ said Bob Callecod, former director of Parks and Recreation in Bowling Green. Affordability was just one concern. Many’ agreed with House Resolution 3200 -legislation the Health Education, Labor and Pension committee initiated- which states health insurance would be inexpensive, high quality and made available to all American citizens. ‘Health care is a universal right and not a limited privilege,’ shouted Dolores Whitman who had those same words written in bright letters across a poster board. Latta, who was attending meetings throughout northwest Ohio during the protest, would agree to changing health care, but cannot agree with H.R. 3200. According to his opinion piece on his Web site (located at latta.house.gov), Latta said the health care reform package would only lead to further government intrusion and bureaucracy, resulting in higher costs. ‘No one is going to argue that our country doesn’t need health care reform, but there are several different ways to go about it,’ said Press Secretary David Popp, speaking on behalf of Latta. ‘Lets not pass [H.R. 3200] for the sake of passing it. This is a 1000-page bill and one of the biggest pieces of legislature since The New Deal. Lets have bipartisan input and lets have debate,’ Popp said. The protest culminated when the citizens marched into Latta’s office and handed in a petition signed by more than 3000 of Latta’s representatives in favor of supporting health care reform. ‘[This protest] is showing people in the Bowling Green community are really interested in health care reform with a strong public opinion,’ said Michael Hale, teacher at Owens Community College and one of the organizers of the protest. Hale, who is involved with Progress BG which actively involves community members in politics, joined forces with College Democrats and Organizing for America to host the protest. According to Hale, hundreds of requests were sent to Latta to hold a public town hall-style meeting regarding health care. While Latta has made himself available to talk with his representatives in smaller venues, he has yet to publicize a major dialogue on health care with the public. Popp said a discussion with the community is possible, but not feasible in the near future due to Latta’s busy schedule. ‘My major issue is not necessarily with his positions, but with the fact that his constituents can’t share their positions with him to affect his decision making progress,’ Hale said. ‘He is not even saying yes or no [to meeting with citizens], but just ignoring us.’ Ignoring the public has played a significant problem with health insurance companies not caring for their clients like Sandy Rowland. After having her heart fail on her for a second time, Rowland’s insurance company initially refused to pay for a pacemaker, willing to save a few dollars instead of a person. ‘They gambled with my life thinking I would die,’ she said. Rowland recently returned to work after retiring to cover her out-of pocket medical costs. As a realtor, she is currently paying more for her health costs ($600) than her salary per month. At the other end of the age spectrum, senior Rachael Sample will soon be ineligible to be covered by her parents or a University health care plan. In one year, she will be required to find a job, affordable health insurance and find enough money to pay the bills and purchase groceries. Sample’s mother was a pharmacist and has heard the ‘horror stories’ about people sacrificing their meals or rent money in order to pay for their prescriptions. She would like to see not a single American citizen suffer to make a similar choice ever again. ‘These are decisions that are impossible to make and Americans should not have to. That is why I’m out here,’ Sample said. ‘There is no reason individuals should go into debt they cannot deal with in order to survive.’ While the protest was important for those in attendance, Callecod said in the weeks ahead, this country will have significant choices to make regarding health care. Callecod’ can only hope the government makes the right ones. ‘I’m just very concerned about the fact that we are the only civilized nation in the world that does not take care of health needs for its people,’ Callecod said. ‘ Note: Assistant Photo Editor Rachel Radwanski contributed to this report. ‘ ‘

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