Hundreds march for health care

AUSTIN (KXAN) - About one thousand protestors marched from the Texas AFL-CIO headquarters on LaVaca Street to Wooldridge Square Park on Saturday afternoon.

About half of the marchers came to speak in favor of President Obama's health care reform plan. The other half was against the plan.

"President Obama's trillion dollar health care rationing scheme will lead to long lines, higher cost of care, and lower quality of care," said Adam Cahn who against Obama's plan.

"Why would any sensible person want to do that," he added.

Arguments broke out at Wooldridge Square park, where marchers voiced passionate views about health care reform.

"This is the only industrialized country that does not have health care and I think that is something we should all be embarrassed about," said Bunny Joukert who was in favor of Obama's plan.

Joukert said she pays thousands of dollars in health care bills every month despite having Medicare. She believes more health care reform would curb the costs.

The march was a grassroots effort: disability rights activists, Texans for Obama, and a number of local politicians were involved.

U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Austin mayor Lee Leffingwell, Texas Senator Kirk Watson, former Texas legislator Ann Kitchen, and city councilwoman Sheryl Cole planned on attending the event, thought the large crowd made it difficult to confirm if they made it.

According to reports, US Senate Democrats have announced they will not be able to meet Obama's deadline for passing a health-care bill.

Obama reportedly saying he is rushed to see reform after hearing many stories of difficulty from Americans who are suffering without health insurance.