Illinoisan's react to health care bill - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

By Arnold Wyrick

CARBONDALE, IL (KFVS) - One of the Heartland's senators in favor of the health care bill, Senator Roland Burris, spent his Sunday afternoon talking to constituents about the legislation.

Senator Burris and fellow members of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity shared ideas and thoughts about health care, jobs and the budget deficit in Illinois.

"Ninety-five percent of Americans would be covered under this legislation, that's the exciting part," Senator Roland Burris said.

"Secondly it would take care of all the insurance company restrictions that they've placed over the years on healthcare. Such as denying people for pre-existing conditions."

But, the fight for health care reform hasn't come without controversy and protests.

"I think it's important to extend health care to those who don't have it," says John Holmes of Carbondale.

"And I'm shocked by the angry reactions of some people. They seem only to care if they have health care, they seem not to care if other people don't have it."

Along the way there's been some speculation about whether or not some physicians would deny medical care to some patients under the new plan.

"I've heard that. But, I don't really believe that people would go that far," says Doctor Dorris Weaver of Carbondale.

"The medical professionals I've talked to are in favor of the bill passing. I think that health care is probably one of the foundation blocks for all other developments."

Senator Burris also told the crowd gathered at the Carbondale Civic Center that just cutting the budget in Illinois won't be the answer to balancing the state's multi-billion dollar deficit. Senator Burris says it's also going to take some revenue enhancements to turn things around in Illinois.

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