Handful of supports rally for health care reform in Shamokin
Rodger Babnew, of Sunbury, holds a sign during a rally about health reform outside of U.S. Representative Christopher Carney's office in Shamokin.
Larry Deklinski/Staff Photo Nancy Crook, of Lewisburg, holds a sign supporting health care reform at the intersection of Front and Market streets in Sunbury. The Sunbury Area Democratic Committee staged a rally there Tuesday in support of a positive vote for health care.
Health Care Reform
SHAMOKIN - Outside U.S. Rep Chris Carney's city office at 521 Franklin St. Tuesday afternoon, Milton residents Amy Abattoir and Burton Bell stood in support of health care reform.
Burton held their youngest daughter, 8-month-old Vivian, as their other children, Atticus, 2, and Violet, 4, hung around their legs.
"We're still in debt for three out-of-pocket child births," said Abattoir, who explained she and her family of five have no health insurance.
They are two of millions in America who have no health insurance - and two of six who rallied at Carney's office at Mill Road Square. Abattoir and her husband have never had health insurance, and are now in their 40s. They have made a living as artists/musicians or have worked for companies too small to provide health insurance.
"I don't want these kids to roll the dice when they're adults like we've had to," she said, adding that the money they pay into hospitals could be used to save for their children's education.
Burton, who said between bills and mortgages that health insurance costs too much, understands it's their gamble to not have health insurance.
"Sometimes it's a scratch," he said about injuries to his children, "but it could be worse."
That's why they traveled from Milton to join a handful of people rallying outside Carney's office in support of health care reform, organized by the Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN).
While critical health care reform votes are likely in the House of Representatives by the end of this week, Carney is among a handful of representatives whose votes could sway the legislation's outcome.
He voted for the House-passed Democratic health reform bill in November, saying he could not have voted yes if it lacked a ban on using federal money to pay for abortions; otherwise, he said recently, he remains undecided until he sees the final bill.
'So many issues'
"There's so many issues," said Antoinette Kraus, a statewide organizer with PHAN. "When people get sick, we all pay for it. It's a life or death situation."
She explained that health care costs are rising at least five times faster than wage increases, and reform must be enacted to control costs.
"The real issue is health care costs continue to rise every year," she said. "It's increasingly becoming more and more part of operating budgets. If we don't do anything, it's going to get worse."
During the small rally, Kraus addressed the people, then advised everyone to sign their name inside Carney's office in support of health care reform. They then placed themselves with signs on Independence Street shortly after 3:30 p.m.
"We hope Congressman Carney will do the right thing," said Kraus. "His constituents really want this."
Carney: Still waiting
In an statement via e-mail Tuesday, Carney said, "I appreciate input on all sides of this important issue, having received letters, phone calls and visits from both supporters and opponents of the health care proposal."
He said he looks forward to reviewing the final language of the bill once it is released.
"I will judge the final proposal based on whether it increases affordability, denies insurers the option of rejecting people with preexisting conditions and enables people to take their insurance with them when they change jobs," he said. "We must also close the prescription drug 'donut hole' for our seniors and ensure that federal funds can't go to pay for abortions."
The problem must be resolved, he said, and families must be given a choice that they have been badly lacking and bring affordability into a system that has run out of control.
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