Insurance Providers

Even though the Democrats appear to have majorities in both the House and the Senate, this mat be no guarantee that they will gain approval of the health care changes being put forth by President Barack Obama.

An early House committee proposal In Tennessee is being opposed by four conservative Democrats who said that they are still concerned about the sweeping changes backed by the White House.

In the case of most of these they are looking for more cautious, incremental change. It is their hope that the more conservative Senate Finance Committee will put together a package that helps by limiting costs and improving access to medical care.

For example, Representative Bart Gordon, a Democrat from Tennessee says that that if healthcare is not reformed, insurance premiums will continue to rise and pushing the country into additional debt. He is one of the conservative Democrats and is also the longest-serving member of Congress from Tennessee. It warns that it is still proper to not go so fast but to get it done right.

A leading conservative representative John Tanner, Democrat from Tennessee, has voted in committee against the only House committee version that had been approved before the August recess, saying it costs too much. According to Representative Tanner, Congress is still polarized over how to improve health care access and coverage without putting too much pressure on the federal budget. He says that he sees the problems facing the Congress regarding healthcare as being as as challenging as any domestic issue that he has ever had to deal with.

Representative Lincoln Davis, also a Democrat from Tennessee says that he hasn't taken a position on any of the health care bills and that
he will hold seven town hall meetings this month with respect to healthcare issues.

Tom Hayden, a spokesman for Representative Davis’s spokesman Tom Hayden says that the congressman has as of yet not come up with any deal nor has he staked out his position regarding healthcare legislation.

Mr. Hayden adds that the Congressman and his staff are reading the bill and that they are talking to constituents in order to gauge their opinion and that this is typically the eay that the congressman operates.

Congressmen Gordon and Tanner says that they will be holding telephone conferences with constituents instead of meeting with them in town hall meetings.

The telephone meetings allow him make contact with thousands of constituents simultaneously says Congressman Tanner. Congressman Gordon says that telephone town halls don't make it necessary for people to travel. All they need to do is to get on the phone.
At the same time, a Ringgold, Ga., anti-tax activist, Jim West, who functions as the secretary for the Chattanooga Tea Party, is saying that too many members of Congress simply aren't willing to carry out public meetings where healthcare reform debt is possible.
He says a lot of congressmen are copping out of the debate. According to Mr. West the protesters who are showing up at congressional town hall meetings represent a cross section of America, who he says, are helping to cut public support for such plans.