MIKE WEST
Posted: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 10:01 am

A mixture of catcalls, cheers, applause and jeers met Rep. Bart Gordon Monday night during his town hall meeting.

The session, held at MTSU’s Tucker Theatre, resolved little, but did give some area residents a chance to sound off about government health care programs, abortion law and other issues.

Some of Gordon’s answers surprised those in attendance

Like when he told the audience, he was willing to surrender his Congressional health benefits.

“I introduced an amendment to just do that,” the Congressman said.

And when he repeated his opposition to giving illegal immigrants any sort of federal health care his comment brought a huge ovation from the nearly 900 in attendance.

The evening began with a question from the Rev. Jim Avaritt of Bellwood Baptist. Avaritt’s battle with cancer has left him in a wheelchair.

“We don’t need socialized medicine,” Avaritt told Gordon, resulting in the first large ovation of the night.

Gordon said he would not support government insurance for all, but that discussion is continuing in Congress. “There is no final bill.”

Carl Berning of Milton asked if TennCare would be able to survive under the adjustments being made in Congress.

Gordon answered that it’s too soon to know the fate of TennCare until the legislation before Congress is ironed out.

A number of those in attendance either made comments on abortion or asked Gordon about his stand on the issue. Some health care reform opponents claim the legislation would use public funds to pay for abortions.

Gordon responded by saying that he backs the Hyde Amendment, which bans government payment for abortions except in the cases of rape, incense and life of the mother.
Jay Burkholter of Blackman asked Gordon about his position on tort law reform. “Too much money is going into the the tort system,” he said.

The congressman, agreeing, said he has voted 21 times for tort reform.

"Tell me one thing that the government can do better than private industry ... other than the military," asked Dave Williams of Murfreesboro.

Gordon, in response, listed a number federal agencies including the National Park Service to the Food and Drug Administration that perform well and render good public service.

The congressman will continue his series of one-on-one meetings with 6th District constituents beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Putnam County Courthouse in Cookeville and on Wednesday at his office at the Sumner County Courthouse in Gallatin.

Gordon will have one more town hall meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Volunteer State Community College auditorium in Gallatin.