Lincoln to host town-hall forum on health care in Jonesboro

"As I travel the state, I continue to hear from Arkansans concerned about health care and our recovering economy," Lincoln said. "Rebuilding our nation's economy and putting more than 100,000 jobless Arkansans back to work is my top priority. As health care premiums continue to rise for Arkansas's families and our nation spends one of every six dollars on health care costs, reforming our health insurance system is an essential part of getting our economy back on track. I look forward to continuing an open and constructive dialogue with Arkansans so that we can rebuild our economy and fine-tune our health care system so it works for all of us."

After fulfilling a number of previously-scheduled obligations during the first week of the recess period, Lincoln adjusted the remainder of her schedule to accommodate requests for face-to-face town hall meetings with Arkansans.

The first stop was set for Wednesday, as Lincoln was scheduled to host a meeting on the campus of Arkansas Tech University at Russellville, and will continue with another meeting Thursday on the campus of UAPB in Pine Bluff.

The final town hall meeting will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4, in the Fowler Center on the campus of Arkansas State University at Jonesboro. The doors will open at 8 a.m. and organizers report that additional parking will be available at the convocation center and in the Kell Field Baseball Complex.

Lincoln has averaged more than 10 public, town hall-style meetings per year since she was first sworn in as a U.S. Senator in 1999. These open forums have focused on Social Security, the Medicare prescription drug program, education, veterans and National Guard, and many more issues. Earlier this year, in anticipation that Congress would act on health care reform in July, Lincoln held a series of rural health care public forums tour across the state in April, as well as open meetings during the July work period.

"I appreciate the opportunity to personally meet with fellow Arkansans to hear their comments and concerns," Lincoln said. "That is the best part of my job, and I look forward to holding this latest series of town hall meetings."

In addition to town hall meetings in Russellville, Pine Bluff and Jonesboro, Lincoln will appear at the invitation of the Arkansas chapter of the American Association of Retired People (AARP) on a Teletown Hall meeting for AARP members and will be the guest of talk radio hosts Bob Steel and Dave Elswick on their respective shows during the first week of September.

In addition, Lincoln has solicited the comments and opinions of thousands of Arkansans by email regarding health insurance reform and has shared many of these responses with her Senate colleagues. Lincoln encouraged those who are unable to meet with her in person to continue their open dialogue via phone, mail, and email and noted that contact info is available at www.lincoln.senate.gov