Over the past year, there has been clear reason to believe that many Valley residents and many Americans see an obvious need to reform our health care system.
U.S. Rep. Chris Carney has stated repeatedly that his survey of constituents has shown that support for reform runs 2-to-1 over opposition. Last September, pro-reform citizens from Lewisburg collected 1,600 signatures on petitions they presented to Pennsylvania’s two U.S. Senators.
More recent polls show that support for the health care reform legislation has eroded.
A recent Gallup poll indicated that voters are almost evenly split on the question of whether Congress ought to pass health care reform legislation proposed by President Barack Obama. Gallup found that 48 percent of respondents are opposed to the legislation while 45 percent are in favor it, with another 7 percent of those surveyed expressing no opinion.
A poll of 300 “likely” voters in the 10th District, funded by a group opposed to what it called “Obamacare,” found greater opposition. The poll by a Republican polling firm — commissioned by StartOver! a group of almost 250 employers — found that 58 percent of respondents in the 10th District said they hope Carney does not support the health care reform proposal.
The survey gave Dave Madeira, one of the Republicans who hopes to run against Carney in the fall, something to brew with at a Tea Party protest targeting the incumbent congressman.
The polling data has been accompanied by a ratcheted-up anti-reform campaign airing in the Northeastern Pennsylvania television market, targeting Carney and neighboring Congressman Paul Kanjorski, D-11, of Nanticoke.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said Friday that the pivotal vote will likely take place this week and President Obama has reportedly delayed an overseas trip so he can be in Washington for the showdown.
Carney has said he will only support legislation that controls costs and allows people to change jobs without losing health insurance or get rejected by insurance companies for having pre-exsiting conditions. Citizens only have a few days to help the congressman determine if the reform plan on the table is worth his support. We hope voters share their views, both with Carney, and with us and other readers as we approach this historic decision.
