Health care town hall moved again; Costa can't attend
| Thursday, Aug 13 2009 06:06 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Aug 13 2009 06:08 PM
Constituents are clamoring for Congressman Jim Costa to attend an upcoming town hall meeting on health care reform in Bakersfield, but his office says he's not able to make it.
The Californian and Costa's offices have received calls for the Fresno Democrat, who represents part of Kern, to explain his views on a House proposal to revamp the health-care system.
They've suggested he attend an Aug. 26 health care town hall being hosted by Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, who has come out against the bill.
Costa will not be in Bakersfield that day and he has not been invited by McCarthy, said spokesman Bret Rumbeck. He has not scheduled his own town hall.
Costa, whose district includes Arvin, Delano, McFarland, Shafter, Wasco and parts of Bakersfield, has not taken a position on the health care bill yet, Rumbeck said.
The legislation is some 1,100 pages long, Rumbeck said, and Costa and his staffers are not done deciphering all of it yet.
Costa has a lot of questions about how it would affect valley businesses, hospitals and residents generally, Rumbeck said.
"There are a lot of things we're looking at," he said.
Costa is, however, a member of the House's moderate Blue Dog Democrats, a powerful coalition that has raised concerns about the cost and effect on business of the health care plans.
Meanwhile, McCarthy's town hall was moved Thursday for the second time to accommodate more people.
But it's staying on the Cal State Bakersfield campus, going from the Doré Theatre to the Icardo Center.
The Icardo holds far more people, about 3,800, McCarthy's office said. The Doré holds about 500.
The event was originally planned for Bakersfield City Hall council chambers, which can take 190 people. Local political activists said that was way too small a venue given all the people who want to attend.
The event is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26. McCarthy will take questions; local physicians may also be there.
KGET Channel 17 will air the town hall live. It will also stream it live at KGET.com.
Congress members throughout the country have been holding town hall meetings during their recess on federal plans to revamp the health-care system.
