Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregonians have the opportunity during the Congressional break to attend town hall meetings with politicians.  Across the country, Americans have put the health care overhaul effort at center stage. April Baer reports.

Last weekend Senator Jeff Merkley got an earful during an appearance in Madras. Republicans and Oregon Tea Party members packed an appearance to tell the freshman Democrat they're not happy with the health care packages moving through Congress.

Monday night may be a replay, as Congressman David Wu hosts a town hall-style meeting in McMinnville.

Tom Cox is planning to be there.  He's a Republican, and has been doing some volunteer work for the tax opposition group, the Oregon Tea Party.

Tom Cox: "Normally, when there's a get-out-the-attendance thing it's like 'Please show up, please bring your friends, let me know if you can make it' and there's been none of that. It's 'OK, who's going? Who can I get a ride from?' I don't find anybody at least on our side worrying about attendance."

Cox says he's seen internet videos of shouting matches that have erupted at similar events in other parts  of the country.

He says doesn't expect anything that raucous, and is counseling people to make their points in a way that does credit to the movement.