A line the length of a football field had formed by 4:30 p.m. Monday as people waited for Pelican Landing to open for Rep. Gene Taylor’s 6 p.m. town hall meeting, deputies said.Taylor is opposed to ObamaCare.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office dispatched more than two dozen units to handle crowd and traffic control as hundreds of people either waited outside or in the lobby for a chance to get in.
Others left after being turned away.
Capacity for the building is 1,000, and a sheriff’s reserve officer estimated that between 1,500 to 2,000 came.
Even though deputies took signs from people who entered and kept them at the door, “everything was peaceful,” said Cliff Miller, chief of the Sheriff’s Reserves.
Miller said there was no room for signs and the seating was too close. It was a safety issue.
“There were no arguments,” he said.
Civic leader Harry McDonald left early because it got too hot inside the packed building.
He described the atmosphere inside as tense at times.
“Nothing he says comforts you,” McDonald said. “Most of the people are over 65 and are in turmoil.”
--Sun Herald "Hundreds turned away from meeting"
“The health care bill is projected that even with the changes that are coming out, if they are able to get them out of it, it is costing us maybe $900 billion tax dollars more, $900 billion of new debt,” Taylor said. “We just don’t have that kind of money.”And he believes health care reform will not pass this September.
“I thought it went about as good as it could, given the passion of the (health care) issue,” Taylor said.
--Sun Herald "Overflow Crowd Grills Taylor"
"If I'm going to be there, I like a big crowd, and I thought they asked some great questions and I thought it went really well," Taylor said about the meeting.
Taylor opposes the President's plan, including the "public option" idea for insurance. Instead, Taylor wants to see more competition among the insurance companies.
He said several times Monday night he will stick to his position and vote against health care reform in September.
Taylor assured him and others that no change in the plan will convince him to vote in favor of it.
Taylor said he understands the frustration people are feeling about the possible reform.
"When it comes to the healthcare of a loved one, there is no budget," Taylor said. "It's that intense of an issue, say emotional issue."
Although plenty of people spoke out at the meeting, Taylor said he believes it went well.
"I thought it was fine," he said. "There was some intensity on people who were for it, people who were against it. People had the opportunity to ask good questions. I'm glad they came out, we had good discussions."
Taylor said in the meeting he does not believe health care reform will be voted into law this September. President Obama's deadline for reform is September 15th.
--WLOX "Taylor's town hall meeting draws big crowd in Moss Point"
(Photo from Sun Herald, for this and more: OVERFLOW CROWD GRILLS TAYLOR)The town hall has gotten a lot of responses. Andy Taggart posted the difference in two Mississippi Blue Dogs.
Last night, Democratic Congressman Gene Taylor rolled up his sleeves during a tough, public and open town hall meeting in Moss Point and discussed issues with a contentious crowd that at least one reporter estimated at 1,000 folks. Upon announcing his opposition to ObamaCare, Taylor got a standing ovation from the crowd.Really, Childers? A phone call? If this is how government does democracy, wait until they do your health care. Really?
Tonight, on the other hand, Democratic Congressman Travis Childers is having a "tele-town hall meeting", which, I guess, means, you can call in if you want to, but your congressman will be in an office with a speaker phone.
But Y'all Politics has the real scoop in sharing that Gene Taylor indiciated he would not again vote for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House.
Then he opened the question and answer period by saying:" Under no circumstances will I vote for any Health Care Bill". That brought down the house with applause, cheers and whistles.Sun Herald Video: Overflow crowd at Taylor meeting
His comments about being adamantly opposed to National Health Care was quite a change from his town hall meeting three weeks ago in Waynesboro or on previous appearance on WLOX TV News shows when he said he would not vote for Nationalized Health Care unless he could be assured it would not increase the deficit!
He also said he would not support Cap and Trade legislation calling it a Ponzi Scheme!
It was obvious that the anti-Obama people outnumbered the Democrats 5 or 6 to 1 and Taylor, when confronted with remarks from the local head of the NAACP, Curley Clark who wanted to know what Taylor would do for
The "hard-working Mississippians who don't have health care, Taylor responded: " We have only agreed to guarantee health care for our Veterans and that's all."
Taylor was questioned about his vote to install Pelosi as Speaker of the House and said she had promised him she would support his efforts on catastrophic insurance coverage, which he said she did not. He strongly suggested he would not vote for her again as Speaker of the House.
Sun Herald Video: Gene Taylor town hall meeting (Go to the 1:13 mark to see Taylor say he will not vote for the health care plan to cheers and get a standing ovation)
WLOX: Congressman Gene Taylor is in Moss Point to talk about healthcare
