Union protests Altmire’s decision

March 21, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

ALIQUIPPA, Pa.

Members of the United Steelworkers union demonstrated Saturday at the western Pennsylvania office of a Democratic congressman, urging him to reconsider his decision to oppose the health- care reform bill.

Second-term Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., said Friday he believed the plan would not mean real reform of the system and could worsen skyrocketing health-care costs. He also said the vast majority of his constituents opposed the bill.

Union spokeswoman Connie Mabin said the sit-in was intended to urge the congressman to reverse himself and support the bill, which the union argues will cut costs, save jobs and help the elderly and millions of uninsured.

“Most steelworkers are very angry, and the word that keeps coming up is ‘betrayed,”’ she said. “They worked hard for him ... and he has said to us numerous times that he was for health-insurance reform.”

Mickey Bolt, 58, who works at a steel pipe plant in Mercer County, said he was one of about a dozen people jammed in the congressman’s tiny office, and dozens of other demonstrators were outside. He said he had campaigned for Altmire and was “truly disappointed” by his decision to come out against the health-care measure.

“I hope he’s not just looking at the poll numbers rather than trying to do what’s right,” Bolt said.

Altmire said he valued the demonstrators’ input.