Aug. 7--SANFORD -- As Congress considers implementing sweeping reforms to government-backed health care programs, a crowd of Lee County residents gathered to have their voices heard before legislation is considered that could change the way citizens pay for medical treatment.

More than 250 people packed the Kmart parking lot Thursday afternoon as Americans for Prosperity's "Patients First" tour bus made a stop in Sanford.

Americans for Prosperity's state chapter is taking its message to cities around North Carolina, rallying people to petition legislators to vote against any new public health care plans. Sanford was one of 30 communities on the group's itinerary this week.

"We've always had a lot of support in Lee County," said Dallas Woodhouse, state director for Americans for Prosperity. "These are good folks who want to take care of themselves and don't believe in cradle-to-the-grave care by the federal government."

Michelle Jackson, 33, brought her 1-year-old son to the rally to take a stand against health care reform. Jackson, whose husband works as a truck driver, said her family receives health insurance through her husband's employer, and she doesn't want that to change.

"It ain't perfect, and nothing's going to be perfect, but I'm comfortable with my health care," she said.

Lloyd Jennings, who heads up the Lee County branch of Americans for Prosperity, said he was pleased with the crowd that showed up to listen to the 45-minute presentation.


"This is an issue that many people are concerned about," Jennings said. "From young to old, it's going to impact everyone."

Jennings stopped short of saying that Medicare and Medicaid programs should be disbanded, but he did say any health care reform policies should be geared toward putting more control in the free market.

"The more we can get government out of the health care program, the better it will be," he said.

Jon Sanders, a policy analyst and research editor for the John Locke Foundation, offered alternative reform tactics to be considered in place of policies that give government officials more control over health care.

"Concerns that are voiced here, I'd like to see them heard in the halls of Congress, heard in the White House," Sanders said. "The issues that are talked about are of major concern and we need to slow down and listen to the people."

Sanders said Congress should drop restrictions that prevent citizens from purchasing insurance from out-of-state companies, promote more tax-free health savings accounts and reduce the number of services health insurance companies are required to offer.

He said allowing insurance providers to decide which services they are able to offer and consumers to decide which services they want to pay for would help individuals find affordable insurance plans that fit their needs.

Teresa Dew, a Sanford resident running for City Council in November, said the federal government has nearly bankrupted the Medicare program and shouldn't be able to run the entire industry.

"I am all about reducing our taxes and I feel like as a citizen of our community, we have enough problems with Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid and we just don't need government interfering with our health care," Dew said.

Claudette White said she was upset by rumors that people had been bussed in to support the rally or that the group gathered was an "unruly mob." White, 59, said she is old enough to depend on the government for health care, but she doesn't believe the government can provide quality care for the entire population.

"We don't need universal health care for everybody," White said. "That's just ridiculous."

Dozens of people in attendance came with homemade signs against the president and congress over the proposed reform. Event organizers provided contact sheets for U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge and Sen. Kay Hagan, both Democrats, along with a petition form for constituents to oppose the legislation.

When Woodhouse asked the crowd what they were going to say to Etheridge and Hagan, a handful of attendees shouted "Go to hell!" before Woodhouse began chanting the program motto, "Hands Off My Health Care."

Woodhouse offered several stories of patients who had received poor or limited care from public health systems in Canada and Oregon to make his case against a national health plan.

"They make the decisions based on what the cost is to the government. It's a government first mentality that has no place in the United States of America," Woodhouse said.


Not everyone at the rally was opposed to public health care, however.

Jennifer DeCock of Sanford was the only public plan advocate to stand at the front of the crowd, holding a sign declaring the merits of government-run health care. DeCock's husband's parents received cancer treatment for four separate illness under Canada's government-sponsored health care system, she said. DeCock, who has lived in Sanford since she was 5 years old, said her in-laws received excellent care from the government.

"I'm coming out to make my voice heard against this initiative by rich people to stop health care from being affordable for working Americans," DeCock said.

DeCock, a registered Republican, said her family doesn't get insurance through an employer plan and she can't afford to pay for her family's care.

"I fit right in with all these people, but I don't think they realize what health care is going to cost in a few years," she said. "I'm a working parent and I can't afford it."