Oklahomans Urged to Call In Concerns about Health Care

By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The phone is ringing off the hook on Capitol Hill as people from all over the country let their Congress members know just what they think of health care reform. At times, call volume was so high, circuits were near capacity and callers received busy signals.

It underscores the many concerns voters have about health care reform and how it's trying to be pushed through.

The opposition has been coming in since President Obama made health care reform his top domestic priority. It's been a hard sell and many voters aren't buying.

Oklahoma's congressional delegation opposed the House's version of health care reform from the very start.

"It's bad for Oklahomans, it's bad for America; it will hurt small businesses, it will increase health care costs," Oklahoma State Representative Mary Fallin said.

But that hasn't stopped the public from speaking out.

"My office has received a steady stream of phone calls, letters and e-mails about the health care bill in which the majority are opposed to," Rep. Fallin said.

A lot of that opposition is coming from grassroots efforts, like this blog from Oklahoman Steve Dickson:

"Congress is focusing on the wrong thing and they're trying to shove it down the throat of the American public," Dickson's blog reads.

Dickson is a realtor by trade, but he frequently writes about political issues on his blog. He encouraged readers to contact their representative and speak out against this bill.

"They don't know what's in the bill," said Dickson. "They don't know how much it's going to cost. It's over 2,300 pages. I doubt anybody's read it. In this is particular issue it is just the Democrats that are going to vote for this bill in the House."

But Oklahoma Democrat Dan Boren is prepared to cross party lines and vote with the Oklahoma's Republican majority.

"People knew where I stood early on," said Congressman Boren. "I came out very early saying I would oppose this measure. I'm not in that undecided column."

Congressman Boren says has not received any pressure from his Democratic constituents to change his vote, nor has he received a call from the White House. He does expect that to change as the bills move closer to a vote.