Hall and Ball Town Halls Attract Large, Loud Crowds

Michael Brendan Dougherty Congressman John Hall speaks at his health care forum in Fishkill while his presumptive Republican challenger, Assemblyman Greg Ball, looks on. Around the country, forums on health care reform have sparked intense debate and resistance, and the 19th New York Congressional district is no different. Democratic Congressman John Hall and his presumptive Republican challenger, Assemblyman Greg Ball, held separate meetings on health care reform last week, each meeting simmering with the passions of engaged citizens.

Assemblyman Ball’s town-hall event, the first of the two, brought a big and sometimes raucous crowd of his supporters. Ball, and his audience, largely covered the reasons why health care reform as currently proposed by the Obama administration should not be enacted. Congressman Hall’s gathering the following evening was sponsored by the NAACP, which initially refused to allow entrance to nonmembers, but Hall responded to the complaints of would-be attendees (including Assemblyman Ball) gathered outside the venue—and perhaps to Mr. Ball’s accusation that Hall prefers to work in “scripted settings”—by agreeing to allow as many citizens as could legally fill the hall.

On Wednesday at the Hotel Sienna in Fishkill, Greg Ball invited participants to give their own thoughts on health care. The forum attracted more than double the anticipated crowd: more than 400 constituents packed the ballroom, spilling into aisles and out into the parking lot. The majority of the crowd was senior citizens.

Ball spoke briefly before opening the floor to those of any political persuasion to offer comments on the current legislation being debated in Congress. “We cannot allow the extremes on either side to negate the debate,” Ball said, “That’s why your voice must be heard. In rooms like this come the best ideas.We’re not here just to talk: we’re here to get something done.”

Residents took turns denouncing socialized medicine, sharing stories about care in countries like Canada, and announcing their fears of a government takeover of health care. Though passions ran hot, Ball kept the forum from spilling out of control.

When one resident who supported Obama’s reform was about to be shouted down by the crowd, the Assemblyman intervened “You know how that liberal media talks about angry mobs? Do you want to give them something to talk about? Well, we all want to be civil. If people disagree with us, that’s okay.”

Ball said that suggestions at his health care meetings included the following proposals for reform: Members of Congress should be required to participate in their own health plan, people with pre-existing conditions should be able to find coverage, and the working poor should be given priority in reform discussions. Ball promised to work for these ideas in any health care legislation in which he had a vote.

The next night, at St. John the Evangelist Church in Fishkill, John Hall was scheduled to speak about health care to the local chapter of the NAACP. Nearly 100 local residents gathered outside the church asking to be let in. They were joined by Assemblyman Ball, who has criticized Hall for speaking in “scripted settings.” NAACP representatives initially declined entry to non-members. When Hall arrived on the scene to catcalls and demands to be let in, he informed the gathered crowd that the meeting would be opened to as many participants as allowed by fire codes.

Beacon Mayor Steven Gold opened the meeting by holding up Ball’s meeting as an example of “open debate,” and encouraged residents to keep order. Hall acknowledged the presence of Assemblyman Ball, congratulating him for “being engaged in the health care debate.”

Hall said he had been holding meetings on health care for all his active years as a politician. “I have not committed to vote for either version of the House bill,” the Congressman said.

Hall framed the debate as one of balancing the interests of small and large businesses. “IBM is our largest employer in this district. They are happy with the plan because they are grandfathered in,” Hall said, “I’ve spoken to small businesses that are exempt from new taxes. What we need to find is the break point—a large small business, or a smaller big business that might be getting hurt.”

Hall was challenged by audience members on the particulars of the health care reform. Garrison resident Joyce Bloom wore a button signaling her support for “Single Payer” health care reform as in Canada, and encouraged the Congressman to back a strong public option in the current bill.

Someone asked if the new government plan would cover abortions. “I will support a bill that covers all legal procedures,” Hall said. Another audience member shouted, “So you support taxpayer-funded abortion.” Hall answered that he would protect a woman’s right to choose.

Unlike Ball’s event in Fishkill, where the audience was overwhelmingly against current legislation, Hall’s meeting was almost evenly divided.

Though a few protestors at the Hall event became rowdy, both meetings demonstrated a desire for area residents to have a debate on health care that is tough but civil.

The Obama administration had hoped to pass its sweeping health care reforms in July. Delay in Congress postponed final votes until after the August recess, and a contentious August recess may set the timeline for a vote even further into the fall, or may split the proposed bills in half.

The two forums on health care last week were not just an opportunity for residents to air health care concerns, but were also a preview of the 2010 congressional race.

Both John Hall and Greg Ball are likely to receive national support in this battleground district. Ball has cast himself as an energetic fighter for the people, while Hall has played up his image as a knowledgeable and temperate legislator. The overwhelming crowd of elderly citizens at Ball’s meeting may be an indication that the 2010 elections may overturn many assumptions about politics in the Hudson Valley.