By Jennifer Emert - bio | email
ALBANY, GA (WALB) - The national health care debate continued in Albany as hundreds of people are packed into the auditorium at Albany State University to hear from 2nd District Congressman Sanford Bishop. It's his second public hearing here in South Georgia today.
More than 500 people attended the forum on the ASU campus. The scene was heated at times as Bishop invited questions, though many preferred to get up and make statements.
The line formed in the lobby about 3:00, amid a security check by ASU police. The crowd had to wait because Bishop was delayed leaving his Bainbridge meeting.
He spoke for about 30 minutes about some of the legislation before taking questions. Some exchanges were spirited, including one with a Lee County nurse, who says the health care is not a right.
Bishop believes it is. "Isn't there something there about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? And I don't know too many people who can have life without good healthcare. I don't know too many people who can be happy."
Some of the crowd shouted out comments. An E. R. Physician from Calhoun County asked Bishop if her hospital would close under the new plan.
Others asked if reform were not adopted next year, might it be addressed by Congress next year. Many leaving the meeting said they hoped Congress would wait on this plan. Many questions were not answered.
The forum was expected to last about two hours. The Bainbridge forum went on about twice that long. The Congressman said he would stay to answer voters' questions. At 6:15, they were still about twelve deep at the microphone.
Today's meeting was one of four Bishop's held in south Georgia.
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