Politics & Government

Fireworks at Medicare Forum

Three or more attendees at a Medicare Forum held at the East Brunswick Senior Center heckled and interrupted U.S. Rep. Rush Holt.

U.S. Rep. Rush Holt visited the East Brunswick Senior Center Wednesday evening for a forum on Medicare and how proposed changes included in a Republican budget proposal could affect those benefits.

During the presentation, Rep. Holt was heckled several times by what appeared to be a group of three or four men, two of whom spoke (with one interrupting the Representative several times and calling him a liar). The incident ended with a member of the East Brunswick Police Department getting involved.

One of the men in attendance, Daniel Popa, was handing out literature before the meeting and announced himself to at least one attendee as Rep. Holt’s “nemesis.” Popa did not raise his hand to ask a question until moments before the meeting ended. However, he had urged others to ask Rep. Holt this question: “Regarding the new Healthcare laws, why is the Obama administration granting 1,000s of exemptions and waivers to favored groups of current administration?”

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He also was involved in a shouting match with an elderly woman next to him, with a police officer also getting involved.

In addition, the majority of attendees laughed at one of the man who started speaking about “Death Panels.”

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Following the meeting the group was among the people who approached Rep. Holt. While they did not address him directly, they did air their grievances to each other once again.

Watch the video for an incident that almost resulted in a fight, with police getting involved.

Check back with Patch for more on what the majority of attendees discussed. 


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