There was not nearly enough time on Friday morning for Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter to answer all of the questions Alton residents had for her.

The Alton Board of Selectmen invited Shea-Porter to an informal public forum to allow her to address concerns about the issues that have been boiling in the U.S. House of Representatives recently. While the selectmen touched upon state infrastructure, it was health care that really stirred up the crowd on Friday morning.

Selectman Dave Hussey asked Shea-Porter why the government was trying "to build a house from the top down," suggesting there is much needed work that has to be done to the infrastructure of society.

"Why give money to the banks who are not lending it out?" asked Hussey. "If we had invested in power plants ... the payback would have been much better."

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the unemployment rate has reached 10.2 percent, a rate the United States has not seen in 25 years.

Lucy Sisoian gives Rachel French a hug after she and her husband, Aram, discuss health care with her and her daughter, Wendy, who were protesting the federal reform plan during Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter's visit to the Alton Town Hall Friday morning. (DARYL CARLSON/CITIZEN PHOTO) * Order a print of this photo

Shea-Porter agreed with Hussey that more money should have been invested elsewhere.

"That's exactly what I've been saying the entire time," said Shea-Porter. "Why are we putting money into these banks in the first place? When you look around, you can see a lot of work needs to be done."

Shea-Porter said she thinks the stimulus package was made of up two parts: the bailout to the corporations, which she voted against, and the other was the stimulus money.

Selectman Peter Bolster said a lot of people seem to be concerned with health care reform, something many of the residents attending the forum concurred with.

Alton resident Barbara Howard said she has not received any positive feedback about the health care bill being proposed in the House.

Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter discusses health care with Alton selectmen and townsfolk as Executive Councilor Ray Burton looks on at the Alton Town Hall Friday morning. (DARYL CARLSON/CITIZEN PHOTO) * Order a print of this photo

"I don't think this new health bill is needed," said Howard. "Every step of the way we've been told something and the next day something else transpires."

She told Shea-Porter that she believes the new health care system would devalue the seniors and veterans in society. She said she recently had been laid off from work and now can only afford a health care plan that has a $10,000 deductible.

"Enough is enough; we need to be heard," Howard said.

Shea-Porter said those who have health insurance currently are fortunate to have it since many people are denied because of illness or various other reasons.

"I think when you can pay for insurance, you must," said Shea-Porter. "For those who are blessed to have insurance through their companies, they should keep it."

She suggested that those in attendance look back to where the country was last year and where it is now. She also said the new health care bill will make it better for senior citizens in need.

Ron Sayles questions Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter about health care at the Alton Town Hall Friday morning. (DARYL CARLSON/CITIZEN PHOTO) * Order a print of this photo

"It's not a perfect bill and I'm not the first person to say that," she said.

Shea-Porter said, currently, there are about 47 million people in the country who do not have coverage under a health plan because of costs or being denied the insurance.

"The idea is to drive costs down," said Shea-Porter. "We're trying to control the costs."

Resident Joe McCormack questioned having the government control health care, saying he believes the system will end up similar to systems in Europe and Canada, where care is "rationed."

"I've been paying government Medicare tax all my life," said McCormack. "When I need a new hip or new knee, the money won't be there and I'll have to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair."

Shea-Porter said she, along with the other representatives, battle every single day so the middle class can be heard. She told the residents at the forum that she will return to the town hall and bring a fact sheet outlining the health care bill in detail.

"This is an enormous change in our country," said Shea-Porter. "I'm very optimistic about this country. Do I think we have it perfectly right now? No. Can we fix things? Yes."