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Demonstrators want Skelton to hold health care town hall meetings

Protestors demonstrate outside the Jefferson City office of Mo. Congressman Ike Skelton (D, 4th U.S. District).
Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Protestors demonstrate outside the Jefferson City office of Mo. Congressman Ike Skelton (D, 4th U.S. District).

By Marshall Griffin, KWMU

Jefferson City, MO – Protesters are criticizing central Missouri Congressman Ike Skelton for not holding any town hall meetings on the current health care debate.

Nearly a hundred people held signs and demonstrated outside of Congressman Skelton's Jefferson City office early Wednesday evening.

They spoke out against House legislation that would create a government-operated health care plan, and accused the Democrat from Lexingon of deliberately ignoring their concerns.

Keith Krueger of Jefferson City was among the demonstrators.

"Congressman Skelton, I've voted for you several times in the past, but it's going to be hard for you to get my vote again if you support this proposal," Krueger said as the crowd applauded.

During the applause, another man shouted, "A lot more of us feel the same way!"

Rebecca Loving is Skelton's Press Secretary. She says the congressman has instead been holding roundtable discussions with health care professionals, including a recent one in Sedalia.

"He spoke with nurses and doctors and hospital administrators, and the Congressman had a very frank, honest discussion about health care reform and how it would impact rural America," Loving said.

Loving also said that Skelton wants his constituents to voice their opinions by writing or calling his offices in either Jefferson City or Washington DC.

Meetings held by other members of Missouri's congressional delegation have been spirited at best, and at their worst resulted in clashes between demonstrators on opposite sides of the health care debate.

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