LAKEPORT — Martin Street was lined with protesters of health care reform outside the Lake County Fairgrounds before Congressman Mike Thompson”s 19th annual Ravioli Dinner.
Inside the fairgrounds, in Lewis Hall, the place was packed, with approximately 400 people in attendance.
Environmental consciousness highlighted the event with a e-waste drop-off point. More than 3,000 pounds of electronic waste was collected for recycling. A total of one million pounds has been collected since Thompson began the program. The recycled electronics go to people and organizations in need.
“We live in a little piece of paradise. We ought to be proud of that,” Thompson said about Lake County.
The lingering question centered around health care and Thompson addressed it.
He urged people to get beyond partisanship and work together. He said there are a lot of untruths going around regarding health care reform.
“The bill passed, that”s historic. Every one of us who is an American, should be very, very proud of that,” he said.
He pointed out that Medicare would be improved, name brand drugs will be reduced in cost by 50 percent, small business will be eligible for a 35 percent tax credit for what it pays for employees on health care coverage, children with pre-existing conditions will not be denied coverage, insurance companies cannot bump a person off of their insurance if they get sick and health care will be available exclusively for legal citizens of the United States.
He said about 95 percent of the people in the country will have health care.
“We”re already paying for people who aren”t covered … but ineffectively,” he said. “We”re going to be better off as a result of it.”
Thompson also stressed the importance of dealing with financial reform and predatory lenders.
