HUNTINGTON -- For more than an hour Thursday night, local politicians and a leading physician debated national health care reform.

The event took place at Spring Valley High School, organized by the presidents of the two student political organizations.

Brandon Lewis, president of the Young Republicans, and Jasmine Lewis, president of the Young Democrats, both said that no matter where people stand on the issue, more information is needed.

"Nationally, there has been a lot of discussion and confusion about this," Hodges said. "We needed to have a discussion for the community. It might help to clarify things."

Lewis said the event did a good job in promoting some kind of health care reform, though the panelists were split on what reform should look like.

What they did talk a lot about was the cost of the national bill that could be voted on this weekend by the House. It is estimated to cost about $1.2 trillion over 10 years, and combined with the nearly 2,000-page bill, they said it is too much too soon.

"I doubt very much our Congressional members have read a 2,000-page bill just put in their lap this week," said West Virginia Delegate Kelli Sobonya, R-Cabell. "And they are expected to vote on it this weekend. Our Congressional members need to read every word in this."

The rest of the panel included Sen. Evan Jenkins, D-Cabell; Marty Gearhart, candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives; Dr. Stephen Sebert; and Rich Heath, part of Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse.

Sebert said from the medical perspective, there are real problems that most people don't ever see. Those without insurance, he said, are charged a list rate that most physicians have to inflate because the insurance companies negotiate it down for the insured patients.

"I live this stuff everyday and I'm scared to death we won't have reform," Sebert said. "But I'm scared to death we'll end up with a government-run system."

Jenkins said a better route might be to reform the insurance industry first, which could avoid large, expensive legislation.

No matter what happens at the national level, the panelists were impressed with the initiative of the Spring Valley students.

"I just want to commend you (students) for being here," Sobonya said. "It's good for young people to get involved in government because this will affect you. Just get involved, be passionate about the issues. Let your voice be heard."

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