U.S. Rep. Brian Baird still hasn't decided how he'll vote on a proposed health-insurance reform bill, but he has some key principles in mind, the Vancouver Democrat told about 6,000 Southwest Washington residents Friday afternoon:

• If you have a health-insurance policy you like, you can keep it.

• Reforms will ensure that people can't be denied coverage.

• The U.S. House of Representatives bill won't add to the national deficit.

• Any public option wouldn't be subsidized by other revenue.

• If it's socialized medicine, Baird won't support it.

Those were among Baird's responses and introductory comments during a one-hour telephone conversation about health care. Baird, who was in Washington, D.C., took calls from 16 constituents in the 3rd Congressional District who have concerns about some aspect of health care.

Some were worried about aspects of the proposed health-care overhaul; others spoke in favor of improved access.

The audience for the 12:30 p.m. session was the result of an automated system that dialed people at publicly listed telephones and invited them to sit in.

The 1,017-page bill referred to in the discussion is the initial draft of the House Ways and Means Committee's bill, which "by no means is the final bill," Baird said in a follow-up interview. "It still needs to be reconciled with the Senate."

None of the 16 people who spoke with Baird were completely identified by name and location. This summary doesn't include all 16 questions, and some have been condensed or combined.

A recording will be posted online at baird.house.gov in a few days, Baird said.

Why is a bipartisan proposal from Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden (D), which will limit cost, not getting not more support from both sides?

Baird: "It has elements people don't like. It will insure 99 percent, constrain costs and is the only one I know of that the Congressional Budget Office says is paid for. But it has no public option, and some are afraid it would 'tax' your health insurance. It would take away a tax deduction, but people who use their own funds would get a tax deduction. It's the only one I know that has strong bipartisan support."

Are you aware you're creating heavy debt for future taxpayers?

Baird: "The health care plan from the House of Representatives would not increase the debt by a penny. If this bill is not paid for, I will not support it."

Why do programs help people who've made bad decisions, but people who try to be responsible can't get help?

Baird: "We often create programs to help people who have made wrong choices. We want to create incentives for people who take care of themselves. Some can afford insurance and don't buy it." And on the same general theme, Baird added that housing relief "didn't trickle down enough to average homeowners."

Does the plan require elderly people to consider ending their lives?

Baird: "Nothing is further from the truth. If you want to have a discussion with your doctor about things like end-of-life decisions — including, "Don't pull the tube" — you should have a discussion. Now, your provider is not compensated for that discussion. All we're saying, if you want more information about these decisions, every five years a doctor or nurse practitioner can get compensation for helping you."

If the bill will generate billions of dollars in savings in Medicare and Medicaid, why weren't those cuts done before?

Baird: "It should have been done a long time ago — abuses, fraud, and overpayments."

How can small-business owners provide care for their employees in the future?

Baird: "I'm concerned about small businesses. But some small businesses, in the current market, can't do it. If there is one (critically or chronically) sick employee, that blows up your risk pool and you can't afford premiums for the rest of your employees."

Given overseas horror stories — an aunt in Australia who waited two months for an appendectomy, an English friend who waited two years for a hip replacement — why undermine the U.S. system?

Baird: "At its very best, it's high quality. Some can't access it."

Where will the money come from and, given the mismanagement in Social Security and Medicaid, how do we know the money will be managed responsibly?

Baird: "Where does the money come from? A combination of sources: savings from Medicare; a modest surtax on people making more than $1 million a year, starting at 1 percent. There is a proposal to generate revenue from overseas income from international operations.

"I share your concerns about entitlements. Social Security trust fund money has been borrowed. There is a proposal to pay into a fund dedicated to (health care), and it can't be drawn upon for other purposes."

What about undocumented workers?

Baird: "The legislation is very clear; the subsidy to people buying policies can't go to people who are in this country illegally. I believe there is not specific language about background checks; I think there should be."

Private insurance can't compete with a government plan, which doesn't have to make a profit. So many of us are happy with the insurance we have. Why can't we have a choice?

Baird: "This bill is about choices. It couldn't use revenue from elsewhere to support a public option. It would have to fend for itself in the insurance market. If you're happy with the treatment you've got, you should be able to keep it, providing it meets certain requirements, and 95 percent do. It is not a mandated socialized medicine; absolutely not the case. I wouldn't support it if it were, and it couldn't pass."

On the Net:

Congressman Brian Baird: www.baird.house.gov/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid

Audio recording of Friday's telephone town hall meeting: www.baird.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=102&Itemid=111

Baird on health care reform: www.baird.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=974&Itemid=99