Kind to make gubernatorial decision in fall
DARLINGTON - Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, said Tuesday at a town hall meeting on health care at Darlington High School that he would be making a decision this fall on whether to run for governor.
Gov. Jim Doyle announced last week he would not seek a third term.
Kind has received an "outpouring" of support from friends and political backers to run for the soon-to-be open seat.
"We are giving this a serious look," he said.
- Andrew Hellpap
DARLINGTON - It lacked the physical confrontation of several nationally notable congressional town hall meetings, but a gathering called by Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, Tuesday in the Darlington High School auditorium still was contentious.
Those who had their ticket numbers drawn by Kind's staff from the standing-room-only crowd addressed the congressman in a mostly civil but sometimes angry manner; some were upset over the role of government and some just wanting a change in the nation's health care system.
Paul Kujak, Baraboo, was not comfortable with how the federal government handled the "cash for clunkers" program, and questioned how the government would be able to undertake such a complex and expensive task as revamping health care.
"I am skeptical of the government to do that," he said to Kind, to resounding audience applause.
A few in the audience of more than 400 supported Kind and the need for a public option in health care, along with a few other reforms, such as the end-of-life counseling sessions that opponents of President Barack Obama's and Democrats' health care plans have called "death panels."
To control the audience, Kind and his staff asked people to use one of two microphones located at the end of each seating aisle in the auditorium. Each questioner was allowed to speak for two minutes. After a round of eight speakers, Kind tried to respond to a few of the questions or concerns posed to him.
Kind was on the fourth stop of a five-stop tour of the Third Congressional District. Tuesday's town hall meetings concluded with a teleconference with constituents.
Karen Crawford, Mineral Point, took time from her weekday to attend Kind's town hall meeting.
"Health care is a big issue. I appreciate some of his responses. At least he gave people a chance to speak," she said.
As long as the discourse at the meetings stayed civil, Crawford said, meetings like Kind's are important, and to her liking, none of those asking questions or making statements got out of hand.
"I thought it was civil," she said.
Crawford's ticket number was not drawn to speak, but she came prepared. She wanted the answer to a question about what can be done to control the cost of health care, she said.
Crawford explained that her husband, Phil, had a surgery in 2007 at Northwestern University's medical center in Chicago after seeing a Mineral Point physician. While there were no costs listed in Phil's medical bills that seemed unusual, they added up to about $30,000, and Medicare only covered about $7,000, she said.
"Something has got to give," Crawford said.
Kind's presentation began with a short address by Aaron Dunn, a physician practicing in Mineral Point and at the Community Connections Free Clinic in Dodgeville.
Dunn, who spoke on Kind's behalf, addressed the need to help people like many of those who frequent the clinic. Health care reform needs to address several key areas, he said, including eliminating pre-existing condition limitations in health insurance coverage, affordability of premiums, basic comprehensive benefits for all, preventative care and a more navigable health care system.
"The health care industry is a sinking ship," he said, which drew applause.
Kind was prepared for contentiousness from the crowd, but was undeterred by the sometimes violent exchanges seen at town hall meetings around the country during the congressional summer recess.
"No, because I always hold (town hall meetings)," he said, in an interview prior to the event.
Though the Senate has stepped back in its support for the public option proposal in its version of a health care reform proposal, Kind sustained his support for the idea in the House plan.
"So long as it has to compete on a level playing field," he said, with other private insurance plans.
He also continued his support for health care cooperatives - numerous businesses or farmers pooling together to purchase lower cost health insurance - which the Senate has promoted in its version of the bill.
"I think it will receive serious attention in the fall," Kind said.
Kind also held listening sessions on health care Aug. 14 in Richland Center; Aug. 20 in Tomah; Aug. 21 in Whitehall; and a telephone town hall Tuesday night.
At a few of the town halls, Kind encountered some angry constituents, while two people who addressed him at previous summer stops came to Darlington to speak to Kind again, saying their concerns were not answered.
Despite the emotions involved, the town hall meetings are necessary, Kind said, to help inform voters and give them a chance to speak even if they disagree.
"I think it's important we do this," he said.
Those who had their ticket numbers drawn by Kind's staff from the standing-room-only crowd addressed the congressman in a mostly civil but sometimes angry manner; some were upset over the role of government and some just wanting a change in the nation's health care system.
Paul Kujak, Baraboo, was not comfortable with how the federal government handled the "cash for clunkers" program, and questioned how the government would be able to undertake such a complex and expensive task as revamping health care.
"I am skeptical of the government to do that," he said to Kind, to resounding audience applause.
A few in the audience of more than 400 supported Kind and the need for a public option in health care, along with a few other reforms, such as the end-of-life counseling sessions that opponents of President Barack Obama's and Democrats' health care plans have called "death panels."
To control the audience, Kind and his staff asked people to use one of two microphones located at the end of each seating aisle in the auditorium. Each questioner was allowed to speak for two minutes. After a round of eight speakers, Kind tried to respond to a few of the questions or concerns posed to him.
Kind was on the fourth stop of a five-stop tour of the Third Congressional District. Tuesday's town hall meetings concluded with a teleconference with constituents.
Karen Crawford, Mineral Point, took time from her weekday to attend Kind's town hall meeting.
"Health care is a big issue. I appreciate some of his responses. At least he gave people a chance to speak," she said.
As long as the discourse at the meetings stayed civil, Crawford said, meetings like Kind's are important, and to her liking, none of those asking questions or making statements got out of hand.
"I thought it was civil," she said.
Crawford's ticket number was not drawn to speak, but she came prepared. She wanted the answer to a question about what can be done to control the cost of health care, she said.
Crawford explained that her husband, Phil, had a surgery in 2007 at Northwestern University's medical center in Chicago after seeing a Mineral Point physician. While there were no costs listed in Phil's medical bills that seemed unusual, they added up to about $30,000, and Medicare only covered about $7,000, she said.
"Something has got to give," Crawford said.
Kind's presentation began with a short address by Aaron Dunn, a physician practicing in Mineral Point and at the Community Connections Free Clinic in Dodgeville.
Dunn, who spoke on Kind's behalf, addressed the need to help people like many of those who frequent the clinic. Health care reform needs to address several key areas, he said, including eliminating pre-existing condition limitations in health insurance coverage, affordability of premiums, basic comprehensive benefits for all, preventative care and a more navigable health care system.
"The health care industry is a sinking ship," he said, which drew applause.
Kind was prepared for contentiousness from the crowd, but was undeterred by the sometimes violent exchanges seen at town hall meetings around the country during the congressional summer recess.
"No, because I always hold (town hall meetings)," he said, in an interview prior to the event.
Though the Senate has stepped back in its support for the public option proposal in its version of a health care reform proposal, Kind sustained his support for the idea in the House plan.
"So long as it has to compete on a level playing field," he said, with other private insurance plans.
He also continued his support for health care cooperatives - numerous businesses or farmers pooling together to purchase lower cost health insurance - which the Senate has promoted in its version of the bill.
"I think it will receive serious attention in the fall," Kind said.
Kind also held listening sessions on health care Aug. 14 in Richland Center; Aug. 20 in Tomah; Aug. 21 in Whitehall; and a telephone town hall Tuesday night.
At a few of the town halls, Kind encountered some angry constituents, while two people who addressed him at previous summer stops came to Darlington to speak to Kind again, saying their concerns were not answered.
Despite the emotions involved, the town hall meetings are necessary, Kind said, to help inform voters and give them a chance to speak even if they disagree.
"I think it's important we do this," he said.