Aug 20, 2009 10:24 pm US/Eastern
Hundreds Rally At S. Fl. Healthcare Reform Mtg.
DELRAY BEACH (CBS4) ―
Healthcare reform took center stage in Delray Beach as U.S. Representative Alcee
Hastings held a town hall meeting on the matter Thursday. Things got heated,
especially outside the civic center where dozens clashed over the
matter.
The forum was hosted by the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans (FLARA) at the South County Civic Center at 1 p.m. While several members of Congress were invited to speak, only two Democrats, Alcee Hastings and Robert Wexler, agreed to attend.
In order to control the crowd, FLARA decided to turn their annual forum into a ticketed event. The Palm Beach County Republican Party said tickets for the 500 seats were handed out to members of the union affiliated group which favors an overhaul of the health care system, but when hundreds of others applied for tickets their requests were turned down. Those not in favor of the Obama administration's plans for healthcare reform are being urged to loudly protest outside the center
Standing outside the civic center Denise Marchesselault said something needs to be done for those who are living without or can't afford coverage.
"I'm okay with healthcare, we're retired military and I'm also on Medicare, but I'm worried about the people who don't have healthcare," said Marchesselault.
Lucinda Hyler said any reform plan that passes must have a public option.
"I'm disabled and I was kicked off Medicare, I have no insurance," said Hyler.
Members of the AFL-CIO were present in 'show of force' outside the auditorium before the forum to make sure those attending were not deterred or hassled by the protestors. In an effort to maintain order inside the hall, all attendees were asked to write their questions down of a form when they arrived and then they would be answered in the order in which they were received.
(© MMIX CBS Television Stations. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report)
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