Friday, November 13, 2009

Taylor discusses health care, other issues at PRCC

     POPLARVILLE - He didn’t vote for it but the health care legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives contains some good provisions, Congressman Gene Taylor told Pearl River Community College students and others today.
      Taylor, a Democrat who represents Mississippi’s 4th Congressional District, spent about 90 minutes fielding questions from students and area residents during a town hall meeting at PRCC’s Technology Center.
      Taylor supports the provision in the bill that would take away the health care insurance industry’s anti-trust exemption.
      "I hope the insurance companies lose their exemption," he said. "Insurance companies ought to have to compete."
      Taylor wants the exemption stripped from the entire insurance industry, not just health insurance. He also supports a provision that would allow children to be covered by their parents’ health insurance well into adulthood.
      "One of the few good provisions of the bill would allow your parents to keep you on their insurance until you’re 26 or 27 years old," he said.
      He predicted a different bill will clear the Senate.
      "We’ll have to see what the Senate does and then vote on it," Taylor said.
      In response to a question, Taylor said he opposes sending more troops to Afghanistan. He voted for the so-called surge in Iraq because military leaders argued in favor of it, he said.
      "Not a one of them has made an impassioned case for a surge in Afghanistan," Taylor said. "They saw a light at the end of the tunnel in Iraq. I don’t think they see one in Afghanistan."
      PRCC student Brad Parker of Poplarville criticized Taylor and his Congressional colleagues for voting on legislation that they haven’t read. In response, Taylor said he supports requiring a 72-hour window before a bill comes up for a vote.
      "We need to know the ramifications," Taylor said.

Other topics addressed by Taylor, most in response to questions, included:

• He voted for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House because she came to Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina and promised help in passing multiple peril insurance legislation.

"I’m going to vote for people who will help us," Taylor said.

• Debt reduction should start by cutting the number of local projects funded by the federal government.

     "There are a heck of a lot of things the federal government is doing that the local governments should," Taylor said. "We should ask the locals to the greatest extent possible to take care of themselves. There are a heck of a lot of grant programs that probably could wait.
      "That borrowed money is real money and you’re going to pay for it."

• The Democrats and Republicans court high-dollar donors who then influence their platforms.

     "Both political parties are out of touch with the American people," Taylor said. "Partisanship is not in the best interest of the country."