HOYER FACES BIG CROWDAT HEALTH-CARE TOWN HALL

By JIMMIE BISE JR.
NTCNews.com
WALDORF, MD - A standing room-only audience of more than 1,500 crowded into North Point High School in Southern Maryland for a spirited health care town hall meeting hosted by Representative Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).
The crowd, some of whom began queuing before 4 P.M. for the 7 P.M. meeting, showed little sign outside of the boisterousness they would show once the meeting began. Hoyer was jeered by opponents of the Democratic health care plan and cheered loudly by supporters, according to Politico, One man was escorted from the meeting by police.
The second-ranking Democrat in the House, Hoyer was repeatedly questioned about whether tort-reform provisions -- to protect health-care providers against lawsuits -- would be included in the legislation, but refused to commit to support such a measure, the Baltimore Sun noted.
Hoyer also maintained his support for the controversial "public option" provision in the legislation, the Associated Press reported.

MORE COVERAGE:

• SUNDRIES SHACK
• POLITICO
• BALTIMORE SUN
• ASSOCIATED PRESS
• THE HILL