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Local groups rally in anticipation of key Senate health care vote

 By Trang Do - Bio | Email

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) - In anticipation of the Senate vote on whether to begin debate of a health care reform bill, hundreds gathered in Huntsville Saturday afternoon for a rally against health care overhaul.

Twenty four other cities held similar rallies that were organized by local doctors in each city who oppose moving forward with the Democrats' health care reform bill.

The Senate's vote to begin debate on the bill was a big victory for another group of citizens who were also out rallying support their cause.

Several hundred people had one united message.

"We feel like the government is intruding between the physician and the patient and we're trying to rally support for that," said Dr. John Fanning, a Huntsville doctor who organized the rally against the current proposals for health care reform.

He said he's in favor of a system where people can buy insurance across state lines.

"I get my 529, I don't get it in Alabama, I got it in Nebraska for my child's college education. I went online, I found the best rates, and I was able to buy it there. We could do the same thing with insurance," Fanning said. 

Others at the rally said they fear the price tag of a health care overhaul.

"My son, who's six years old, will be paying for the bill in his future," said Lee Trott, who came all the way from Rainsville to attend the rally. 

Just across the street from the anti-government health care rally, there was a smaller, but just as passionate group of people touting the message of healthcare for all.

"We do have a solution, and it's called Medicare for all people. Medicare is good enough for our parents, it is good enough for all of us," said Charles King. 

Medicare for all, also known as a single payer insurance system, is a system that members of North Alabama Health Care for All said would ensure the unemployed, students and the working poor, among others would be covered.

"We are the wealthiest nation, yet we have, we do not have the best healthcare," said Barbara Adle.

All 58 Democrats and two Independents in the Senate voted to begin debate on the bill. 

Thirty nine Republicans voted no. Senator George Voinovich (R-OH) was the sole senator who did not vote on the motion.

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