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| (Photo by Russ Mitchell) A group of Tea Party Patriots gather outside the Spencer Public Library to protest the direction of the national health care policy Wednesday morning. The demonstration corresponded with a visit from U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin's staff. [Order this photo] |
Opponents of the health care reforms held up signs along Grand Avenue Wednesday Morning. The picketers eventually made their way near the entrance of the Spencer Public Library. One sign said: "If it isn't good enough for them, it isn't good enough for us." Another said. "Read the bill, defend your health care, U.S."
One of the men holding a sign remarked: "Harkin's not even here."
A fellow Tea Party Patriot responded: "He's an important person. He's too good for us."
Kris Thiessen of Everly, another TEA Party Patriot on hand to protest the current direction of health care reform, said the group received word about a listening post in Spencer, where an aide to Sen. Tom Harkin was scheduled to discuss proposed health care reforms.
"We're trying to put the facts out there for people who are unaware of what is actually in the bill because there's a lot of double-talk to cover it up," Thiessen said.
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| (Photo by Randy M. Cauthron) Ayrshire's Mike Studer, a Tea Party Patriot, discussed what he sees as problems with the proposed health care reform effort in Washington, with Spencer resident, Everly Espey. [Order this photo] |
A longtime user of the current Medicaid system, and neighbor to the Spencer Library, Evelyn Espey, was exiting the city building when she stopped to take literature being offered by one of the protesters. "I know I'll be affected if this (the health care bill) goes through. I'm going to be getting stuck with bills instead of getting help."
Mike Studer, of Ayrshire, another member of the Tea Party Patriots, said, "For years government has been out of control. Not just the Democrat government, but the Republicans also. I've talked to people one-on-one and they've said, 'Somebody should do something.' When the Tea Party movement came along, I saw some people doing something.
"I'm not a joiner by nature, but this is worth joining," Studer said.
The TEA Party protest in northwest Iowa came as President Obama pitched the health care plan in North Carolina. The event was covered by Liz Sidoti of the Associated Press.
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| (Photo by Randy M. Cauthron) A Tea Party Patriot stood his ground on the corner of Grand Avenue and East Third Street -- using his sign to make his point. [Order this photo] |
Last week, Harkin also touted wellness and prevention provisions in the health care reform bill coming out of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
"For most people, it is just common sense that if we can use cost-effective screenings and other up-front interventions to prevent tens of millions of occurrences of cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, then we are going to slash health care costs significantly," he said.






