http://news10now.com/watertown-north-news-1052-content/all_news/central_new_york/490029/health-care-protest

News10Now.com

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Friday, December 10, 2009

by: Web Staff

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Health care reform legislation has faced challenges from Republicans on Capitol Hill claiming it goes too far. Now, some long time supporters of reform are questioning the current legislation, saying it doesn't go far enough.

Protestors gathered outside Syracuse's Federal Building complaining the House and Senate have all but ruled out a "single payer" system. And without that reform in place, they claim the legislation should be defeated.

"The fundamental nature of them is massive subsidies to people who are forced to buy private insurance, when it would be much more efficient and effective in controlling costs to have a single, public payer provide insurance for everybody," said Howie Hawkins.

Hawkins says it may be time to focus attention on the 2010 congressional elections, making sure newly elected members will support a "single payer" system and voting out incumbents who do not.