Issue date: 4/9/09 Section: Campus News

Media Credit: Abby Harvey U.S. Rep. Ron Kind replies to the concerns of community members during an open listening session on Monday morning at the Eau Claire County Courthouse.

On Monday, Rep. Ron Kind (D-La Crosse) held his own feet to the fire at a listening session by fielding questions and remarks on a multitude of issues - primarily government spending, health care and tax reforms.

Although the federal government has gotten closely involved in the actions of many housing and financial institutions, Kind said he believes the relationship is necessary in the short run. Once the economy begins to turn around and the market stabilizes itself, he said the government needs a good plan to disconnect and turn the market loose again.

"I don't think it's a healthy phenomenon to be so actively involved in the daily affairs of the marketplace," Kind said. "When (the market starts) up again, that's when we have to have a strategy for how to back off and disengage, but with sufficient oversight, accountability and transparency."

Health care was a common discussion topic throughout the listening session, with many people voicing worries about various costs of reforms as well as general public coverage.

Bart Naglestad of Eau Claire expressed concerns over the financial burden of a universal health care system on the average taxpayer.

Damian Obrien, a UW-Eau Claire emeritus, felt that in order to truly reform the U.S. health care system, every idea must be placed on the table for consideration, including a single-payer system.

Quality over quantity is a mantra Kind said the country needs to hold itself to when looking at changing the entire system.

"Experts say that one-third, or $700 billion, of the $2.2 trillion spent on health care each year goes to treatment that doesn't improve the quality or results at the end of the day," he said. "It's more than just about coverage; it's mainly the cost. What do we need to do to change the system to get better value than what we're getting today?"

Bob Martin, Eau Claire community coordinator for fairtax.org, asked Kind, a member of the Ways and Mean Committee, why the committee had not considered the fair tax as an option for tax reform.

Although he didn't say he supported the option, Kind said he believes the idea needs to be considered, adding he would be willing to meet with a fairtax.org representative in Washington.

"We need tax simplification in this country," Kind said. "We should have hearings delving into the pros and cons, because what's been created now is a monstrosity, and it's a drag on economic activity and that has to change."

Amid all the concerns about the economy and health care, Kind said representatives need to use this time to listen to their constituents and stay open to different ideas.

"Out in Washington I think that responsibility starts personally at home, with individual action that us members can take," he said. "Especially this year, it's been very important to find areas we have direct control over in the budget to find savings so we can bring things back into balance again."

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