Local foes of $940B bill protest in Toledo

the blade/amy e. voigt Amanda Metcalf, right, and Mary Mangold of Toledo protest at the corner of Cherry and Summit streets. The Children of Liberty, a conservative-libertarian group, organized the demonstration. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Photo Reprints

Some local opponents of the health-care bill under consideration by the House of Representative left no doubt yesterday about where they stood.

They gathered in the sunny weather at Summit and Cherry streets waving the Stars and Stripes and holding placards reading "Hands off health care," and "If America socializes health care, where will Canadians go?"

They chanted "Kill the bill, kill the bill." If the frequent honking from rush-hour motorists was any indication, they had plenty of sympathizers.

The demonstration was organized by Children of Liberty, a conservative-libertarian group that advocates limited government and free markets, but does not endorse political candidates.

Mark Makovic, the group's political director, said he believed the 10-year, $940 billion bill would mean a government takeover of health care. And if House Democrats used a procedural shortcut called "deemed passed," to adopt the bill, they would be making law without voting on it, he said.

"From our standpoint, the legislation would be unconstitutional on two levels," Mr. Makovic explained.

The atmosphere was good-natured, but the 60 demonstrators were dead serious in their opposition to the bill that could be voted on tomorrow. Many of them were to board a bus for Washington last night, where they plan to walk the halls of the Capitol buttonholing lawmakers.

Perrysburg resident Linda Bowyer, a professor of finance at the University of Toledo, acknowledged the health-care bill had "some good ideas there. But it's basically heading us to government control of health care."

She said there were other ways to deal with problems such as the inability of people with pre-existing conditions to obtain medical insurance.

In attendance at the demonstration were the two candidates vying for the Republican nomination for Ohio's 9th congressional district, Jack Smith and Rich Iott. The winner will run against the incumbent, U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo).

Miss Kaptur is leaning in favor of the health-care bill, but remained undecided on how she would vote, her spokesman, Steve Fought, said last night.

"She's trying to work some improvements on the bill," Mr. Fought said. "She wants no federal funding for abortion. That's the touchstone."

Contact Carl Ryan at:

carlryan@theblade.com

or 419-724-6050.