U.S. Rep. Phil Hare, D-Ill., answered questions ranging from portability, Medicare, pre-existing conditions and the rush to pass a health-care bill at a forum Monday in Moline.

He was also called a socialist during the event, which was spirited but polite except for Gene Axnix's outburst that included calling former U.S. Rep. Lane Evans a socialist, too. Hare let the man talk until he was shouted down by people in the audience who wanted the conversation returned to health care.

The congressman started the meeting by telling about 30 people at the forum that he had read the bill that is being discussed around his district and across the country.

"Every page. Every section," he said at the forum at Community Health Care. "I helped write it."

Hare, who said he favors a public option for health insurance, explained that the bill would allow patients to see the doctor of their choice, close the Medicare doughnut hole on prescription medication, allow for portability of policies and prevent denial because of pre-existing conditions.

He spoke about adding a public option component as the way to create better competition and lower costs but also said a nonprofit co-op program that is being discussed by senators is another way that can be done.

"I support the public option," he said. "Without it, you don't have the competition."

Hare also expressed frustration at the process and understands people's attitudes about the haste with which the bill has moved forward. He doesn't like that seven senators are involved in the negotiations in creating the Senate bill.

Despite what seems like swift action, deliberating the House bill, a Senate bill and a conference bill will slow the issue in Congress.

"We probably won't be seeing a vote on this for quite some time," he said. "Given all the town hall meetings, there is going to be more discussion."

He also heard the frustration and concern over government involvement in health care.

"I want the government to be as far away as it can be," Mark Archibald, Silvis, Ill., said. "I don't trust a government that can't tell me where 90 percent of the stimulus money is to manage 17 percent of the economy."

Hare thinks some of the mistrust is created by such people as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, with their talk about "death panels" and programs that would "pull the plug on Grandma."

"I think it is disgusting, and the people who are propagating it should apologize," Hare said.

He also had to dispel information one woman said she learned from the office of U.S. Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., that she wouldn't be able to keep her doctor.

"Sen. Burris is dead wrong," Hare said.

Asked by Hare to speak, Heather Culver of Rock Island told about problems she has had getting nutritional supplements for her 15-year-old disabled son, Randy Concannon, because of problems with health coverage.

"It is scary that you have no choice but wait for medication," she said. "There is a very serious breakdown in the system, and I fear for the future."

A woman in the audience with a long-time health problem and a daughter with medical problems pointed to the Culvers' situation, with a government health care plan, as an example of why government-run health care is a bad idea.

Hare disagreed.

"We've got to fix health care, and I think the bill will go a long way to doing that," he said.

Others in the audience asked Hare to consider tort reform as a way of improving health care. The congressman agreed and said because of the size of the health-care bill, bills on tort reform and insurance regulation would be considered separately.