Oregon Public Broadcasting

A courteous crowd of more than 1100 people turned out for a Town Hall meeting Tuesday night with Congressman Peter DeFazio in Eugene. KLCC's Rachael McDonald reports.

It was the 10th town hall the Springfield Democrat has held in the past week.

After the meeting Herb Severson said he was a little frustrated because he had questions about the health care bill that didn't get answered. But he said he was relieved the meeting was so civil.

Herb Severson: "I thought it was respectful. I was worried. I really was. I thought you know based on the press and what you see on TV there'd be people yelling and screaming and you'd see protests everywhere.”

Many had suggestions for cutting costs, including streamlining credentialing of physicians for insurance coverage.

Another person pointed out that there seems to be a gap between what the public wants and what Congress is willing to do. Some progressives in Congress have said they won't support a bill that doesn't include a public option.