CLAYTON, MO (KPLR) -
A rare Saturday session for the US Senate should end with a key vote on healthcare. Senators are expected to move forward on a proposal by democrats that would extend health care to millions of Americans, but republicans claim it is too expensive.
In Clayton Saturday afternoon, there was an anti-public option rally, held by doctors and nurses.
"I'm no stranger to these tea parties," Dr. John Gragnani told the crowd. "I'm a tea bagger and I'm proud of it!"
He received a round of applause from the crowd, as did Chiropractor Dr. Jean Burle, who compared the bill from democrats to a skeleton with no guts and no heart.
Even though he was in his Washington D.C. office, Missouri Senator Kit Bond, a republican, told us in a phone interview he can hear them.
"I don't know when I've been hit by so many people on an issue," he says. "They are saying, 'Don't take over my health care.'"
Bond says the democrats have a dangerous plan. He calls it a 2000 page "turkey that no one should be thankful for" that's going to cut billions from Medicare. But Missouri's other senator, Democrat Claire McCaskill says this bill could save Medicare. Without it, she says, Medicare would run out of money by 2017.
"This is a bogus claim that they're saving Medicare," says Bond. "There is no way. This smoke and mirrors game won't stop."
Democrats claim the republicans are using scare tactics and misrepresenting the facts.
"The bill is frightening in and of itself," says Bond. "We're laying it out and the people of America are not fools, they are not going to be fooled."
It felt like politics as usual on an unusual Saturday at the Senate.
In Clayton Saturday afternoon, there was an anti-public option rally, held by doctors and nurses.
"I'm no stranger to these tea parties," Dr. John Gragnani told the crowd. "I'm a tea bagger and I'm proud of it!"
He received a round of applause from the crowd, as did Chiropractor Dr. Jean Burle, who compared the bill from democrats to a skeleton with no guts and no heart.
Even though he was in his Washington D.C. office, Missouri Senator Kit Bond, a republican, told us in a phone interview he can hear them.
"I don't know when I've been hit by so many people on an issue," he says. "They are saying, 'Don't take over my health care.'"
Bond says the democrats have a dangerous plan. He calls it a 2000 page "turkey that no one should be thankful for" that's going to cut billions from Medicare. But Missouri's other senator, Democrat Claire McCaskill says this bill could save Medicare. Without it, she says, Medicare would run out of money by 2017.
"This is a bogus claim that they're saving Medicare," says Bond. "There is no way. This smoke and mirrors game won't stop."
Democrats claim the republicans are using scare tactics and misrepresenting the facts.
"The bill is frightening in and of itself," says Bond. "We're laying it out and the people of America are not fools, they are not going to be fooled."
It felt like politics as usual on an unusual Saturday at the Senate.
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Loco Al @ 9:03 PM CST, Feb 2, 2010
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Kyla Ewell @ 8:20 PM CST, Feb 2, 2010
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Christopher in Ellis Grove, IL @ 8:18 PM CST, Feb 2, 2010
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