Local activists troubled by health care bill

Varick Ready hoped he wasn't spending his lunch hour Tuesday in vain.

The Watertown resident and his wife, Jennifer, stood vigil near Rep. Bill Owens' Washington Street office with signs suggesting the freshman Democrat deliberate carefully before casting what could be the deciding vote on a landmark health care reform bill.

“I don't think the government should be involved in these things,” said Mr. Ready, who is registered without party affiliation. “Frankly, we just don't have the money for it.”

Mr. Ready was joined in his peaceful protest by a dozen members of NNY912, a local non-partisan grassroots organization which advocates for preserving individual freedoms, less government and reducing the federal deficit.

The group, which has philosophical similarities to the Tea Party movement, is one of the hundreds of special interests that will lobby Democrats such as Mr. Owens who are publicly undecided.

Mr. Owens helped his party's majority narrow pass a health reform package after taking office in November, but is concerned that the Senate version of the bill reduces the number of individuals covered and that it taxes health care benefits.

Democratic leaders who are pushing for the bill's passage are aggressive in their efforts to keep Mr. Owens in the fold.

Mrs. Ready said she was doubtful because of the pressure levied on Mr. Owens that he would vote against the reform. But Mr. Ready said the congressman “may realize that most folks don't support this bill,” although they may agree certain elements are needed.

Mr. Ready was circulating a petition that asked Mr. Owens to vote against any health care reform that didn't allow insurers to sell policies across state lines, that covered pre-existing conditions and that included tort reform measures, such as limiting awards granted to injured patients.

He also wanted to the congressman to vote against “special deals,” or earmarks used to sweeten a bill for a fence-sitting representative.

Even if all those criteria were covered, Mr. Ready acknowledged that he may still not be comfortable with the cost.

“If anything I have concern with my government about right now, it's that I want them to live within their means,” he said. “If there's 40 great things, and you only have money for five, the other 35 things don't get done.”

The NNY912 group is growing slowly. Mr. Ready, who is a steering committee member, said the group probably won't be the difference-maker in the next congressional election here, but said their outspoken approach to fiscally conservative ideals is “awakening” many local undecided voters.