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Protesters criticize health care reform bill

E-mail|Link|Comments () March 20, 2010 05:57 PM

Barry Chin/Globe Staff

Some cars on Congress Street honked in response to this man's poster.

By Globe Staff

With a historic vote about to take place on health care reform in Congress, several dozen people demonstrated today against the proposal at Faneuil Hall in Boston's downtown.

The protest was organized by the Greater Boston Tea Party group. Christen Varley, president of the group, said in a telephone interview that members weren't opposed to health care reform, they were opposed to putting the government in charge of it.

"What we are opposed to is more bureaucracy," she said. "They don't do anything well. They don't deliver the mail well."

The $940 billion package would expand health insurance coverage to 32 million currently uninsured Americans. It would also prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage because of "preexisting conditions," from putting lifetime caps on medical coverage, and from dropping clients when they get sick.

The bill would also require most Americans, beginning in 2014, to have health insurance or pay penalties. The measure would be paid for with a combination of spending cuts to Medicare, taxes on costly health care plans, and a new Medicare tax on investment income for single Americans making more than $200,000 and couples making more than $250,000, who would also be hit by a higher Medicare tax on their earnings.

The bill has generated fierce debate for months, with the most fervent supporters portraying it as a moral crusade to protect patients from evil insurance companies and the harshest critics calling it a socialist plot.

President Obama and Democratic leaders are trying to round up votes for a crucial House vote on Sunday.