Dem lawmaker says town halls are ‘a forum for confusion’

A strong proponent of health reform has declined to hold town halls on the subject because he believes they are a “forum for confusion.”

“Well, I think it’s a big distraction it’s a forum for confusion,” Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.) told WBEN radio in Buffalo on Friday. “The people who are advocating for town hall meetings, we know where they’re at they’re opposed to healthcare reform.”

The third-term Democrat added that he was a strong supporter of the current House health bill, H.R. 3200, saying that “it gets us on a path away from fees for service and toward complete care.”

“Don’t talk about a European system, let’s not talk about a Canadian system. Let’s talk about an American system,” the Ways and Means Committee member added.

Although Higgins believes the existing bill provides an excellent fix to America’s healthcare system, he indicated that provisions of the bill may change.

“There is a lot of debate left” before any plan is approved, he said.

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