State senator Doug Berger, representatives Michael Wray, Lucy Allen, and Jim Crawford, and assorted leftists are hosting a town hall meeting on health care reform at the Old Vance County Courthouse in Henderson. Some questions for the participants.

If health reform works, shouldn’t the proposal reduce the deficit? Why does the CBO show deficit growth ranging from $200 billion to $1.6 trillion over ten years?

If a panel of doctors and experts decide what is effective, how much research would it take to get them to recognize a mistake? How many years would that take?

If a panel of doctors and experts decide what is effective, what will I have to do if that care doesn’t work for me or is counterproductive?

Doctors who see Medicare patients cannot accept payment from those patients for treatments Medicare denies. Why can’t someone just guarantee me the right to see any doctor I want if I pay the bill?

President Obama said his plan “will limit the amount your insurance company can force you to pay for your medical costs out of your own pocket.” Does that mean I won’t be allowed to choose a high deductible policy anymore?

President Obama said his plan will create “an independent group of doctors and medical experts who are empowered to eliminate waste and inefficiency.” Some estimates say 30% of care is wasted. How will these doctors and experts decide which 30% that is? Will it include $4,000 a month chemotherapy like in Oregon where Barbara Wagner was offered physician assisted suicide instead?

President Obama promised that he would not raise any taxes on anyone earning less than $250,000 a year. He already raised cigarette taxes and the health care proposals before Congress are even more expensive. How can the reform be deficit neutral with raising taxes on most Americans?

President Obama promised that the only thing those of us with private insurance would see is a $2,500 reduction in our annual premiums. How’s that working out?