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Grassroot protesters take aim at federal health care overhaul plan

More than two dozen people gathered on the lawn of the Federal Building in Rome at lunchtime Friday to protest an expected vote on the Obama administration’s health care overhaul that includes a public insurance option.

“Americans do not want socialized health care,” said speaker Mike Morton, the chairman of the Floyd County Republican party. “We have the best system of health care in the world.”

The protesters called for people concerned with government intervention in health care to contact their elected representatives with their thoughts.

Morton said anyone that doesn’t know how to get in touch with their elected officials can contact him at 706-346-3400.

“We have to reach across the board to talk to everybody. It doesn't matter if they're a Republican or Democrat,” said speaker Jennifer Hulsey. “They could vote on this by this afternoon so we can't wait.”

She said a bipartisan town hall meeting is slated 10 a.m. to noon July 25 at Georgia Highlands College to discuss health care and the possibility of reforms to the current system.

“We definitely have to do something, I just don't think socialized health care is the answer,” Hulsey said. “Everyone is welcome to come with their ideas.”

Chris Jackson, communications director for Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Mariettea, said the local congressman “whole heartedly agrees.”

“We’re very proud of that grassroots effort,” said Jackson. “That’s a movement that's going on all around the country and we’re very excited to see that our folks are participating in that.”

The president’s plan has two main goals — to expand health care coverage to nearly 50 million uninsured Americans and to restructure the system to contain long-term costs. It could cost roughly $1 trillion over a decade, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates.