Reed wants to repeal healthcare law

    MONTOUR FALLS—Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning) faced questions about healthcare reform, reducing national debt, immigration, and hydraulic fracturing at a town meeting in Montour Falls, Saturday, July 21.
    Of the 12 people present who asked Reed questions, the topic of healthcare reform received mixed comments. Reed reiterated his point that President Barack Obama’s Affordable Healthcare Act should be repealed and replaced with something else. Reed agreed with parts of the reform, including companies having to offer insurance to people with preexisting conditions and parents being able to cover children until the age of 26.
    “Any new plan will include those,” said Reed.
    Reed said his problem with “Obamacare” is the increased costs it will create. He added the law, upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, creates about 130 new agencies. Reed said, “it expands government.”
    One change Reed said he wants to see in healthcare is the transparency. He explained a doctor is unable to say how much something will cost if a patient were to ask. Reed added the doctor might be able to say how much the co-pay will be. He said that needs to change.
    When asked about how healthcare should be replaced, Reed said it needs to be done gradually and “piecemeal.”
    Reed also commented in immigration. He said people should be allowed into the country as long as they apply to be citizens the legal way. Reed also said immigration should be reformed to allow foreign students who have studied in the U.S. to stay in the U.S.
    Reed gave his position on reducing the national debt: everything needs to be on the table. He said any cuts should go reducing the deficit and not to other parts of the U.S. budget. Reed added, “recovery has to be based on the private sector. We have to strengthen the private market.” He said to do that America needs to have a competitive market.
    Hydrofracking was also a concern. Reed said fracking for natural gas should be part of energy program that includes solar and wind energy. He explained the ultimate goal is to remove the U.S.’s dependence on foreign oil.