News 12 at 6 o'clock, August 6, 2009

AUGUSTA, Ga.---1,000 people turned out for Rep. Paul Broun's town hall meeting in Evans last night. Augusta's Democratic and Republican party leaders are now turning up the heat.

The national health care town hall frenzy hit Augusta yesterday. Republican party chair Dave Barbee is sounding off after 1,000 local people showed up to debate universal health care.

"We have universal health care already," said Barbee.

45 million people are uninsured.

"Where do they go? They are not poor people," said Dr. Lowell Greenbaum with the local Democratic Party. "They are working people who can't afford a premium."

"We do need reform," said Barbee. "But we don't need this package."

"What else is new about the Republicans?" questioned Dr. Greenbaum. "They are always saying no."

"Nobody knows what's in the bill," said Barbee. "Nobody does."

"Well no one has read 1161 pages," said Dr. Greenbaum.

But both sides continue to spew rhetoric.

"It'll be like what they've done in England," said Barbee. "If you are over 60 years old and you are on dialysis...you don't get it."

"That rationing care is a lot of baloney," said Dr. Greenbaum. "It's not in the bill."

The controversy stems from a plan that calls for optional living wills.

"And who put in the current bill for the living will?" questioned Dr. Greenbaum. "Mr. Isakson...the senator from Georgia. It's a Republican concept."

"This is the problem," said Barbee. "We are trying to have a civil debate."

"This is a Republican attack. This is a war," said Barbee. "They're not going to win the war."

"Can the Republicans support the reform bill?" we asked.

"Probably not as it stands right now," said Barbee. "No."