News Home

By COBY LaRUE -- Alleghany News

Fifth District Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-Watauga) discussed the push for national health care during a visit to Alleghany County last Thursday, Aug. 6.

Foxx was the featured speaker at a Republican Party cookout that was held that evening at the Lions Club Pavilion.

Other party officials also attended, including 5th District Chairman Dan Bartlett and Vice Chair Celeste Stanley, Surry County commissioner Paul Johnson, who hopes to run for Don East's N.C. Senate seat in 2010, and 90th District N.C. House Rep. Sarah Stevens' (R-Mount Airy) husband Edmond Johnson. Those in attendance were told that the N.C. Legislature was still in session, making Stevens and East unable to attend.

Foxx was critical of bloggers and some in the media, who had called some of those speaking against health care reform plans in Congress and abortion "radical extremists."

She noted that the United States is a "participatory Republic" and that the country needs more people getting involved, and reading bills—"even is some members of Congress don't read them."

She said the biggest issue for most Americans now is health care reform. "There are three bills out there," she explained, with bills coming out of the Ways and Means, Education and Labor and Commerce and Energy committees.

Foxx said several Republican amendments to the 1,017-page bill have been shot down.