Health care activists disrupt Senate Finance Committee hearing

By Carrie Budoff Brown
Politico
May 5, 2009

Health care activists disrupted a Senate Finance Committee hearing Tuesday, standing up one after the other as Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) tried to restore order.

As soon as police escorted one protester out of the room, another would stand up, criticizing the committee for convening a panel of 15 experts and excluding witnesses who support creating a Medicare system for all Americans. About eight were led out of the hearing.

“We need more police,” Baucus said.

The mini-protest was organized by Healthcare Now, Physicians for a National Health Program and Single Payer Action, all of whom support a single-payer, government-run health care system.

“Single-payer needs to be on the table,” one of the protesters yelled. “This is political theater.”

Baucus eventually restored order to the hearing, asking those who remained in the audience not to cause further disruptions.

“I want you to know I care deeply about your views,” Baucus said.