Berkley tries to quell rumors about health care reform

By Lisa Mascaro

Friday, Aug. 28, 2009 | 2 a.m.

More than 2,700 Las Vegas residents joined Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley for a telephone town hall Thursday evening, firing off about a dozen questions on the health care bill making its way through Congress. The exchanges between Berkley and her constituents provided a glimpse at concerns about the legislation. Here are a few exchanges:

Frederick wanted to know whether the proposed government-offered health care plan would be as good as the care he receives through Veterans Affairs.

Berkley replied, “This legislation will not affect the health care you are receiving from the VA system.”

Erica said she supports expanding health care to the uninsured, but is worried about longer wait times. “Will you make sure we can get in to see the doctors we trust?”

Berkley said Nevada faces a doctor shortage, but the House bill includes grants for medical student to encourage “the next generation of doctors.”

David asks, “How are we going to pay for this? One of the things I keep hearing is we’re going to save all this money. Why don’t we try to save the money first?”

Berkley replied “If you are a middle-income wage earner in this country, your taxes will not be going up to pay for this. There have been a lot of rumors. Tax on soft drinks? Not in the bill. Tax on the middle class? Not in the bill.”

Richard asked whether she had read the entire bill.

Berkley said yes.

This was Berkley’s third tele-town hall. She promised to have a live meeting this fall.

“There’s good parts of this bill, there’s better parts of the bill and there’s not such great parts of this bill,” she said. “We’re going to roll up our sleeves, get back to work.”