PORT ANGELES — The threat of disruptive demonstrations against President Barack Obama’s proposed health care plan has nixed any chance Rep. Norm Dicks will hold a public forum on the issue when he visits the North Olympic Peninsula this weekend.
He is scheduled to be in Port Angeles on Friday and in Port Townsend on Monday, Dicks’ spokesman George Behan said Tuesday.
Dicks, D-Belfair, a supporter of the plan, will attend an RSVP-only health and education forum sponsored by the Clallam County Democratic Party Central Committee at the Port Angeles Red Lion Hotel on Friday morning that is already filled to capacity, with 60 to 70 attendees expected, party Chairman John Marrs said.
A health care panel presentation will be 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and an education panel from 10:30 to noon.
Panel participants will take questions from the audience.
Kessler joins in
State Rep. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, will join Dicks in a luncheon presentation at noon.
Dubbed a “listening session,” the forum is primarily intended for the central committee and county precinct officers, Marrs said.
Marrs said health forums across the country have been marked by demonstrations reportedly staged against the health care plan, which includes a government-run option that would cover the estimated 50 million Americans who don’t have health insurance.
“A lot of my local people have contacted me because they are concerned about our meeting being disrupted,” Marrs said.
Among those attending Friday’s sessions will be county Republican Party Chairman Dick Pilling, specially invited by Marrs, who predicted that demonstrators will rally against Dicks and the health care plan, possibly on the Port Angeles Waterfront Trail, which is public property that skirts the hotel’s length.
Pilling organized a demonstration against the health care plan July 17 outside Dicks’ Port Angeles office that drew 37 people.
“I would be very surprised if people were not there trying to make sure he understood that not everybody agrees with his stance,” Pilling said.
“I would hope they would conduct themselves as proper citizens and not riotous bums.
“I will be inside, not to disrupt Mr. Dicks but rather to hear what he has to say.”
PT chamber luncheon
Dicks also will give a presentation to a Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday at Fort Worden State Park Commons, Behan said.
Dicks, who represents the 6th District, which includes Clallam and Jefferson counties, traditionally visits the North Olympic Peninsula during Congress’ annual summer recess, which ends Sept. 1.
He often holds town hall meetings, but won’t this time, Behan said.
“If you are watching what’s happening around the country, there are these disruptive groups coming in and to these types of information sessions trying to make their point in opposition to any health care reform,” he said.
“A lot of these groups are using the opportunity to create a distraction.”
Behan said Dicks is not afraid of disruptions that might occur at town hall meetings, but “they just don’t seem to be productive.”
In addition, the House has not agreed on a final health care bill, Behan said.
“There’s a lot of misinformation at some meetings you are seeing across the country, and that’s another reason it’s difficult to sponsor health care forums.”
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Staff writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
