Friday evening, U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WVa.) will host a town hall meeting in Swint Hall at Wheeling Jesuit University.
On Tuesday, nearly 40 people in Marshall County expressed their opinions on health care with Mollohan’s aides and hoped to have a health care town hall.
At similar health care forums across the country, lawmakers have faced protests and angry constituents.
Last month, a group of citizens in north central West Virginia protested outside Congressman Mollohan’s Morgantown office.
Former State Delegate Republican Cindy Frich organized the event.
Last week, a small group of protesters came to a coal mine where the U.S. Labor Secretary and Congressman Mollohan were visiting.
At the event, Frich challenged Mollohan to listen to citizens like her on health care.
“We would like our say; we would like Congressman Mollohan and the senators to have town hall meetings to let the citizens know what they’re thinking,” she said.
“What their position is on the legislation, and for them to hear from the citizens. That’s probably the most important part of that equation.”
On Friday, they will get their wish. Mollohan announced he will hold a town hall meeting Friday night at Wheeling Jesuit University.
The health care debate is inciting passion across the country, and West Virginia is no different.
Elias Sedillo is a small business owner in Morgantown without health care.
“I don’t think the government is going to take over, I think they need to intervene,” he said.
“Right now, in my opinion, there is a monopoly with the insurance companies.”
Sedillo remembers vividly his experiences dealing with health insurance companies.
More than 10 years ago, Sedillo lived in California. He needed surgery on his back and his insurance company said he had a pre-existing condition.
“It was very frustrating,” he said.
Sedillo says he faced a tough battle with the insurance company to pay off the surgery.
“I lost. It was like $90,000, $100,000. I had to file bankruptcy at the time.”
Sedillo says he is open to new ideas about health care reform, including a possible government option.
“Our health care system right now sucks,” he said.
“We have to change it.”
But some are worried it won’t work. Clarksburg resident Alan Hawkins is one of them.
“I truly believe that we don’t really need universal health care as President Obama is prescribing,” he said.
“I don’t even have health insurance; I pay for it out of pocket,” he said, “I do it because I’m working.”
Hawkins says he tried to read one of the five bills now making their way through Congress.
“It’ll put you to sleep, that’s the God’s honest truth,” he said.
Hawkins believes the health care issue may help the Republicans retake Congress.
“I truly believe in 2010 there might be a turnover in Congress because of this, or it could be the other issue cap and trade,” he said.
The town hall meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday evening. It is open to the public.