Complex Owner Concerned About the Future

by David Croyle

Tom Smith at his home office discusses his concern over the national debt.

Six years ago, Tom Smith and his wife built a complex that they offers free to the public. Built as a state of the art gymnasium, elementary basketball, birthday parties, and churches use it.

“It is a facility my wife and I built for the community,” Smith said.

There was overflow parking at last night’s town meeting event that Smith helped to coordinate as president of the Indiana-Armstrong Patriots.

“I am involved because I have seven grandchildren with the eighth grandchild on the way. Those kids are going to be in debt for what we wanted. How can I look my grandchildren in the face using the debt clock, with all the things we have committed to do in this country and the deficit…and explain why everyone of those kids are $370,000 dollars in debt already coming into the world,” he said with concern. “Social Security is not fully funded. They spent it. Is Medicare funded? No.  Our debt is $12 trillion. Congress is asking for another $1.9… When you take the whole picture, everything we have given for ourselves now… future generations will pay for it.”

Smith said he was glad Mr. Obama was elected president. “If John McCain would have been elected, we would have been still going down the slippery slope.  It woke us up.”

Smith denied accusations that Tea Party members across the country were trying to organize their own party.

“We are not trying to become the third party,” he said. “We are just concerned Americans. We hope that one of the two major parties come to their senses and move toward us. There are a lot of people that feel something is wrong and it is time to do something about it peacefully.”

Smith said the Indiana-Armstrong Patriots will be sending Dr. Terry Ray from Indiana as a representative to a national convention for the Tea Party.  

“We as a people have been sleeping too long,” he concluded.

Specter Feels the Heat from Local Residents

Senator Arlen Specter listens to one of thirty people permitted to ask questions or make comments during a Town Hall meeting held at the Belmont Complex yesterday.

by Tiffany Chaffee

Senator Arlen Specter felt the summer heat Thursday afternoon from approximately two-hundred people who attended the town hall meeting at the Belmont Complex.

Spector entered the conference room at the Belmont to cheers and a standing ovation from his supporters, and boos from those who oppose him.

“I understand that you are here because you are concerned that the government is moving into more areas than they should,” said Specter to cheers from the crowd.  “The whole picture is open for civil discussion.  I am here to listen to your concerns.”

Specter allotted time for thirty questions to be asked, most of which revolved around healthcare reform.  Whenever attendees started filing in, a female staff member asked if they had a question.  The first thirty people, who said they had a question, were given a slip with a number printed on it.

Specter started out by telling the crowd that President Obama wouldn’t sign a bill that would increase the national deficit.  Some of the crowd responded with boos and shouts of “you’re lying” and “he’s a thug.”

“I am neither naive nor stupid,” said a woman selected to speak.  “My trust and faith in the United States Government has been destroyed.  It is abundantly clear to me that an overwhelming majority of Pennsylvania and U.S. citizens are opposed to universal health care.”

Specter answered her by saying that he does not support nationalized health insurance, but it would be another option or choice for those who don’t have it. 

Another woman brought up the point that the Health Benefits Advisory Committee would be made up of nine individuals appointed by the President, and the people were going to set the standard for the public option.  She asked Specter on his opinion of all the power given to the government.

“I will not support a bill which precludes what your doctor deciding what care you should receive,” answered Specter.  “I will not put the decision [of health] into the hands of a bureaucrat.”

“I think a lot of people’s frustration and anger comes out of a serious sense of insecurity about the future,” said a man from the audience.  “Senator Specter, can you speak to how the health care reform will provide stability for Americans and American families?”

“Health care reform will provide security and stability because preexisting conditions will not be basis for cancellation,” responded Specter.  “There will not be gender discrimination and it cannot be cancelled once you have the policy.”

“I’m sure when people decide to go into the medical field, we want to provide quality care for all people,” said a young man who is a University of Pittsburgh medical student.  “Insurance companies have too much power in medical decision making.  Its interest is in turning a profit for their shareholders.  How does the health care bill address this obvious, clear, and fundamental conflict of interest?”

“Insurance companies’ making a profit is capitalism,” answered Senator Specter, with simplicity.  “People will have a choice of what plan they want to buy.”

Senator Arlen Specter

Some attendees questioned the rapid push to get the bill passed.  Specter explained that there was an effort made to pass the bill in July, which was impractical.  “We are taking our time.  By taking time and having meetings, we can find out what the American people think about it.  There are meetings going on all over the country.  I will be reporting back to my Washington colleagues that the temperature in Kittanning is 213 degrees Fahrenheit.”

“There is such a disconnect between Washington and the people in the country,” the man continued.  “You have set yourselves up on a level that you do not identify with your own constituents.  You and your family have the best of everything.  You have great income, you have power and prestige.”

Specter agreed Washington has lost touch, but refused to identify with his colleagues.  “I will disagree with you that I have lost touch with my people.”

A woman shouted over boos from the crowd, “You changed to Democrat.  The Republicans put you in office.”

Specter’s answer was discrete.  “The American people are sick and tired of all the bickering on political ground and are more concerned with the next election than right now.”

After several attendees stormed out of the meeting in anger, Specter closed the meeting by saying, “I’ll tell my Washington colleagues I was wrong.  It’s not 213 degrees Fahrenheit, its 235 degrees Fahrenheit!”