North Texans have written letters and e-mails by the thousands, made countless phone calls and turned out for town-hall meetings, mobilized as never before, some lawmakers say, by the proposed government overhaul of the nation’s healthcare system.

"This is unprecedented, to have this much spontaneous intensity," said U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, who hosted a half-dozen town hall-meetings that drew about 4,000 residents. "People are really concerned about the proposal."

The overhaul is expected to be at the top of the legislative agenda when Congress returns Sept. 8 from the summer recess, which many lawmakers spent in their home districts, listening to constituents.

"If you are not listening during this August break, you are missing the passion of the people," said U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth.

A heated issue

At issue is a controversial Democratic plan that’s been in the works for months.

Area members say they’ve heard passionate concerns about several aspects of the plan, including a government-run insurance option that would exist alongside private health insurance.

"When we first came home in August, people were incredibly angry," said Granger, who said she drew about 6,000 participants to her two tele-town-hall meetings. "They said, 'What are you doing?’ "

Town-hall meetings are a recess tradition, but they don’t always draw overflow crowds, and they’re not always emotional.

In Massachusetts, Democratic Rep. Barney Frank grew so frustrated with one questioner, who likened the Democratic overhaul to Nazi policies, that he said, "Trying to have a conversation with you would be like trying to argue with a dining room table."

In Arizona, Republican Sen. John McCain had an audience member ejected when she would not stop yelling. "Good-bye, see ya," he said as the woman was escorted out.

In South Texas, a fight among town hall-goers broke out as people left a meeting hosted by Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio.

Closer to home, Cindy Thomas of Burleson recently joined a protest outside U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards’ office in Cleburne.

"I am totally against government-rationed healthcare," said Thomas, who carried a "Fire Congress 2010" sign. "I’m mad as hell. I want them to kill the bill totally. Free market reform, totally. No government."

Carl Flores of Johnson County, who showed up at the same protest to support the plan, said he worries about the anger he hears expressed by the opposition.

"I’m afraid this movement behind it . . . there’s some dark clouds on the horizon," Flores said. "This hate is fanatical."

'Sense of betrayal’

Barton, Granger and U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, say most constituents who have spoken out oppose the overhaul as it is now.

"North Texans don’t like the healthcare reform proposals being debated right now in Washington," said Burgess, who has held town halls and met with business owners and those in the healthcare field. "Many do not believe their interests have been taken into consideration, and some even feel a sense of betrayal to the point that they don’t trust anything they see coming from their government."

Barton said about 80 percent of those he’s heard from oppose the overhaul.

"They’d be happy to kill it and maintain the status quo," he said. "That’s not acceptable to me, because there are things in the system that need to be fixed. But step one is to stop the Obama plan."

Granger said the opposition to the plan grew from about 6-to-1 during her first telephone town hall meeting to about 10-to-1 during her second.

"They oppose it dramatically," she said. "It was the public option. People were most concerned with that. They are very worried and very angry."

Edwards, who has held three town-hall meetings and met with business leaders, families, healthcare workers and community leaders, said he was glad for the input.

"The issue of healthcare is vitally important to our families, businesses and nation’s future," said Edwards, whose district includes Johnson and Hood counties. "By having open, honest and respectful discussions, I hope we can further the cause of protecting the strengths of our present healthcare system while addressing the concerns of rising healthcare costs."

Looking ahead

Members are getting ready to be back in Washington the day after Labor Day, but a few will hold public or town-hall meetings before then.

Many say they have been bolstered by constituent support.

"It reaffirms my position going into the town halls," Barton said. "It gives me confidence that what I was trying to do in June and July is what the people who elect me want me to do."

Burgess said the meetings have "strengthened" his resolve.

"North Texans have told me that because of the Democrats’ healthcare reform proposal, coming on the heels of bailouts, the stimulus, cap-and-trade and the takeover of the American car industry and our country’s financial markets, people are 'fed up,’" Burgess said. "North Texans want their federal government to 'get back to the basics’ and 'stop trying to manage and micromanage every aspect of our lives.’"


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