U.S. Rep. John Murtha said Monday that legislators in Washington, D.C., are
working to solve a number of issues regarding healthcare in the United States.
During a telephone town hall meeting for 40,000 residents
living in Fayette, Greene and Washington counties, Murtha answered questions
and discussed a variety of topics ranging from the ongoing wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan to the future of the coal and steel industries. The majority of
questions dealt with healthcare and insurance coverage.
Murtha, D-Johnstown, said more than 60,000 people are
without health insurance in the 12th Congressional District.
"We're struggling in Washington with a number of issues and
healthcare is one of them," Murtha said.
According to Murtha, life expectancy and quality of life in
the U.S. are not up to par
with other modernized Western countries despite the fact that the U.S.
spends more money on healthcare.
Murtha said he and his fellow legislators are working to
figure out ways to provide health insurance for everyone without increasing
costs.
Issues surrounding healthcare are complicated and will take
time to resolve, he said.
"Healthcare is an issue that affects every single
person in this country," Murtha said. "We're working to make sure we
pass a uniquely American plan. We're not going to pass a plan like Canada or Great Britain or anyone else."
Murtha said it's ridiculous that the country's health care
costs are double any other country's costs.
"Yet the quality of healthcare is not as good as we'd
like," he said, promising that legislators are steadfastly working toward
finding a solution that will provide coverage for the uninsured without
adversely effecting anyone.
"We're going to work it out. It's a slow process and
people are frustrated, but we have to make sure we get it right," he said.
Murtha said he is in favor of tort reform but doubts it will
be included in any proposed legislation.
"I've supported medical malpractice tort reform for
years. If it could be part of the package I'd be delighted, but we've got a lot
of lawyers in Washington
and I'm not optimistic it will happen even though I'm for it," he said,
adding that tort reform would do more for the country than any other sort of
reform could accomplish.
In regards to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Murtha said
legislators are trying to come up with a plan that will safely brings troops
home from Iraq while determining what needs to be done in Afghanistan.
Murtha said Afghanistan
is a challenge because there are no adequate roads or railways to transport
soldiers and supplies.
"Everything we have to send in is by air," he
said, noting that flying everything in will increase costs. "We've already
spent almost a trillion dollars on the wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan."
As for the future of the coal and steel industries, Murtha
assured residents that both industries will be around for a long, long time.
However, Murtha said he continues to remain in favor of
legislation that regulates pollutants both industries release into the
environment. Murtha said he will continue to support the coal and steel
industries but that he will also support clean energy.
