Abingdon, Va. -- More than a thousand people packed the hall at the Higher Education Center in Abingdon Thursday morning, for a health care reform town hall meeting.
Some applause, but a chorus of boos welcomed Virginia's Ninth District Congressman, Democrat Rick Boucher.
Groups from unions, and individuals listened to Rep. Boucher, and then representatives from local health care organizations speak about current health care options.
Boucher says he hasn't decided how he will vote on the five awaiting bills in Congress, but that he isn't convinced the so-called "public option" is the way.
He does think reform is necessary for millions of uninsured Americans, because now, the public pays for those uninsured patients.
"My sense is that it'd be more economically feasible for us to find a direct solution for everyone to have access to health insurance then to continue to bear these very high costs indirectly," said Rep. Boucher.
Perhaps the biggest concerns voiced by voters at the town hall is the prospect of a government take-over of health care, and the future debt for America.
Boucher hosted another meeting drawing crowds like the one today, earlier this week in Dublin, Va.
Click on the icon above to hear more from Rep. Boucher and his constituents.
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As of 9:45 a.m.
A town hall meeting on health care in Abingdon, Virginia drew a capacity crowd.
The meeting hosted by U.S. Representative Rick Boucher (D Virginia 9th District) is going on at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center. 11 Connects digital journalist Dana Wachter is at the meeting and reported through Twitter: "Wellmont CEO Mike Snow asked rhetorically, 'What are we arguing about anyway?' Crowd yelled, 'Government control!' Lots of verbal response here."
Look for updates here on TriCities.Com, and you can follow Dana Wachter on Twitter: @danawachter
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