Henry: Congressional candidate displays heavy binders containing health reform measure

By Larry Henry

With two giant binders containing the federal health-reform law, Republican Chris Cates was the only candidate to bring a prop on stage at Thursday's League of Women Voters forum in Dalton, Ga., for 9th Congressional District candidates.

Dr. Cates, a 53-year-old Blairsville cardiologist, said health care reform will create 159 agencies and that elected officials should "defang it by defunding it."

During a break, Dr. Cates, who played college football at The Citadel, asked a reporter to lift the two binders to get a feel for the legislation's physical heft.

"It took me two weeks to read it," Dr. Cates said.

Also participating in the forum, held in the Stan and Janet Goodroe Auditorium at Dalton State College, were independent Eugene Moon and Republicans Tom Graves, Bert Loftman, Bill Stephens and Steve Tarvin.

The candidates are vying in a May 11 special election to fill the seat in the 15-county district vacated by U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga., who resigned in March to run for governor.

Compiled by staff writer Larry Henry. E-mail Larry Henry at lhenry@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/wlhenry.

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