Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Fight over health care draws crowd to Titus event

Titus health care rally

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun

Seven-year-old twin brothers Zach and Raef Erickson, right, hold signs in protest with their parents, Rinar and Kelly, Saturday at a health care reform rally in the parking lot of the Albertsons on Boulder Highway and Lake Mead Parkway.

Titus health care rally

Demonstrators wave flags and signs outside the entrance to the Albertsons where Rep. Dina Titus was speaking with citizens Saturday. Launch slideshow »

The national debate over health care reform came to the streets of Henderson on Saturday when Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) held a Congress on the Corner event in the Albertsons on Boulder Highway and Lake Mead Parkway.

About 300 people came to the event, many with homemade signs or American flags, to voice their support or opposition to proposed health care reform and other issues before Congress.

While Titus visited with those who came early enough to get a ticket to speak with her in person, most of the people opposing Titus and her Democratic colleagues gathered in the store parking lot.

A smaller group of supporters stood outside the doors of the store, partially shielding the congresswoman from the chants of the opposition.

One side would yell out, “stop the bill,” while the other side would respond with “health care for all,” only to be countered with chants of “socialism for all.”

Titus spoke one-on-one with about 35 people.

“I got good information that I can take back with me when we work on the final version of the bill,” Titus said. “I think some of (people’s) specific suggestions were good.”

This is the seventh meet-and-greet of its kind the congresswoman has held in the area since taking office, but most didn't attract large crowds like Saturday's event.

There's value in being able to sit down and talk to people face to face, Titus said.

“(There’s) the outside crowd and the shouting, but it’s a lot different when you sit down across the table from them,” she said. “You have a more substantive discussion.”

People had different reasons for coming to the rally.

“I can’t afford health care for everyone,” said Nathan Curtright, who held a sign reiterating his point.

Some of the dissidents said they didn't support Republicans or Democrats. Others had concerns outside of health care.

“I’m basically to the point that I don’t trust government,” said Jim Peaco. “I don’t trust any of them. … I’m tired of people ripping me off.”

His message to Titus was clear: “She gets to finish this term and that’s it. I want everybody who’s in now, out.”

Peaco said in addition to health care reform he is upset about the government’s stimulus bill and efforts to promote green energy.

“I’m a solar installer,” he said. “I want green jobs, but I don’t like the way they’re going about it.”

But it was Titus’ support of green energy projects that brought Damone Williams to the event.

“There’s a lot of jobs that could be created right now and a lot of people are just saying no to everything Democrats propose right now,” he said, pointing to the other side of the parking lot.

About nine months ago, Williams began his own company that does energy audits to help people use their power more effectively.

“People need to step back and realize a lot of this could be good for Nevada and the country,” he said.

Teresa Crawford also came to the Albertsons to support Dina Titus and the Democrat’s health care proposals.

“I think access to health care is a basic right,” she said. “Some of the people here don’t seem to think so.”

Crawford, a registered nurse, said she sees lots of people who postpone medical treatments because they can’t afford them.

“I feel strongly that the health care system we have is struggling and changes need to be made,” she said. “I support a health care system that will provide all American citizens who want it access to quality, affordable health care.”

Bob Ruckman, the state commander for America First Leadership, said he opposes many government projects because of their costs.

“If you can’t pay for it and it’s not constitutional, then why are we doing it?” he said.

“There’s no way all this can be supported,” he said of health care reform and cap-and-trade plans to limit carbon emissions. “I don’t care how much you raise taxes.”

Ruckman also said he is not happy with either political party at the moment, but he did rejoin the Republican Party after leaving six years ago.

He said he talked to Titus and she was very polite and receptive, even if they do disagree on some issues.

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