Feingold takes praise, heat at listening session

PLYMOUTH – U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold fielded questions, accepted praise and deflected criticism, during his annual Sheboygan County listening session Monday, May 3, at Plymouth High School.

A large contingent of local citizens, political leaders and students filled the Plymouth High School auditorium to hear Feingold comment on a variety of key issues, including health-care reform, jobs, the national debt, abortion, term limits, education reform, college funding and stimulus programs.

Health-care reform, jobs, national spending and abortion generated the lion’s share of the discussion and debate.

Feingold said he voted in favor of the recently adopted Affordable Health Care for America Act, based on cost savings and coverage.

“Our current health-care system is one of the biggest drags on the economy in the history of the nation,” he said. “I voted for the bill in large part, because it saves money.

“It is projected to save us $130 million dollars over the next 30 years. It certainly isn’t perfect and there are some provisions I would like to see cut out.”

Several audience members spoke out against the health-care legislation. Feingold tried to clear the air on the intent of the act.

“A lot of false information has been put out there about the health-care reform act,” he said. “The government is not providing health-care insurance. This program will be run completely through private insurance companies.

“The government is simply helping 32 million U.S. citizens that are not presently covered, by providing subsidies to pay for health insurance. The subsidies help to cover the gaps, so people that want insurance, can get insurance.”

Feingold touted his Control Spending Now Act, which U.S. President Barack Obama will sign into law this week.

“Our government is not doing enough to control spending,” he said. “I was the only democrat to vote against President Obama’s budget, because I felt it did not do enough to control spending.

“That is why I developed the Control Spending Now Act, which includes a provision to block the $1,600 pay raise members of Congress are scheduled to receive in 2011. I would like to see the automatic pay-raise system for Congress ended permanent. Doing so would save taxpayers $80 million over the next 10 years.”

Feingold took considerable heat from the audience on his pro-choice stance on abortion.

One member of the crowd equated his pro-choice beliefs to condoning murder.

“I have always believed that it is the women’s right to make her own decision,” Feingold said. “I would rather have a woman make a decision on whether to have an abortion than a politician.

“However, I do oppose partial-birth abortions under several circumstances, and I am opposed to funding abortions with federal money.”

Feingold also addressed several issues facing school districts.

“I was one of 10 senators that voted against the No Child Left Behind Act,” he said. “I am working hard to get that act changed.

“Instead, I think it is important to support Title 1 funding and the IDEA program for educating kids with special needs.”

He also outlined options for making college more affordable to students.

“Making college more affordable to students is vitally important,” Feingold said. “As part of the healthcare reform bill, students can stay on their parent’s health-care plan until the age of 26.

“I also support increased funding for the Pell grant program, as well as recent legislation to reform interest rates on student loans.”

In addressing jobs, Feingold spoke highly of a plan to introduce tax-credit incentives for companies hiring new employees or offering increases in wages or hours over the next two years.

He also spoke out against his fellow senators, who voted in favor of intertational trade legislation.

“Those senators that voted for NAFTA and the trade agreement with China should be held accountable,” he said. “I refused to support unfair trade agreements that sucked jobs out of the country.”

In response to a question from an audience member, Feingold defended his opposition to the Patriot Act.

“There were many very good provisions in the Patriot Act, but ultimately I felt it comprised the rights of average American citizens,” he said.

Throughout the session, Feingold referred to himself as an independent thinker, who refused to vote solely along party lines.

“I like the president and I support many of his ideas, but I vote against him too,” he said. “I think independently, and often times political affliation has nothing to do with the way I vote.” The one-hour listening session was Feingold’s 54th of 2010 and his 1,278th since 1993.