Columbia (WLTX) - For the second night in a row, health care was a hot topic in the Midlands. Sixth District Congressman Jim Clyburn held a town hall meeting that focused on HIV/AIDS awareness, but he talked about a national health care plan as well. "I wanted to learn about the HIV/AIDS virus because I was ignorant. I didn't know anything about it," explained attendee Marie Dawson Williams. That was how she described herself 18 years ago. Now, as a member of the Brookland Baptist HIV/AIDS Care Team, she educates others. "There's still lots of people here in South Carolina that I believe do not have a clue as to the dangers that are out there," Williams says. She attended Tuesday's town hall meeting to make sure folks in Washington, like Congressman Clyburn, keep the funds available to teach, as well as to heal. "The 2010 Appropriations Bill has $2.3 billion in it for Ryan White. That represents a $54 million dollar increase," he announced to the crowd. The Ryan White CARE Act provides funding for HIV/AIDS programs across the country. Those issues weren't the only ones on the minds of the people Tuesday night. They wanted to talk about the President Obama's health care plan too. "I just want you to talk about public options and how important it is," one attendee told Clyburn. He responded, "A public option will force the insurance cost to have competitive rates. That's what it'll do. It will not force anybody to join." Pre-existing conditions, like HIV/AIDS, were a big topic as well. "The primary reason for health care reform is to get rid of discrimination of people with pre-existing conditions," Clyburn said.
8/18/2009 11:19:47 PM
