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Congressman Kanjorski Gets Ear-Full for Healthcare Vote

Congressman Kanjorski Gets Ear-Full for Healthcare Vote - Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 04:10AM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Tuesday March 30 2010
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SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - The battle over healthcare reform continues. Congressman Paul Kanjorski got an ear-full Tuesday morning while trying to explain the bill's benefits to people at the South Scranton Senior Center.

Kanjorski says the bill benefits people because it covers all Americans and strengthens medicare, but people who are opposed, let the Congressman know their feelings.

"This Obama bill is no good," Joseph Gasdik of Old Forge said. "This Obama bill is no good."

Congressman Kanjorski responded, "Well, you're convinced of that."

"I am convinced of that, Mr. Kanjorski, because you never give an answer. You're a good talker, but you never give a good answer," Gasdik said.

Kanjorski, a democrat, voted for healthcare reform.

"Change is not easy and this is going to be somewhat significant change, but it's really mild," Kanjorski said after the meeting.

The crowd seemed split on the bill. Many of the seniors didn't exactly understand what it meant for them. Kanjorski stressed it will not reduce their medicare benefits.

"Maybe it's a good thing, like social security and medicare," Joe Cutonili of Scranton said.

Kanjorski says there's a lot of misinformation going on around the bill. He says supporting it is the right thing to do, even if it costs him politically.

"My election is really inconsequential to good practice, good law and good healthcare in this country," Kanjorski said. "If I have to lose an election out of doing the right thing, so be it."