Ralston, Ne Restaurant Owner Face of National Health Care Reform (I shook his hand yesterday)

[Omaha Steve]

Marta and I ate at his restaurant yesterday.


http://www.kmtv.com/global/story.asp?s=10934263


Video here: http://www.action3news.com/global/Category.asp?c=170799&autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=4045541&flvUri=

Posted: Aug 14, 2009 08:39 PM

Omaha, NE- Mike Snider is the face of the health care reform debate. He's owned the Syzzlyn Skillet on Ralston's Main Street for six years. Mike says there are thousands of such dinners on small town main streets all over the country. "This is going on all over the place. I knew I would be able to get not my voice out but a whole bunch of voices out."



Mike says Howard Dean's progressive group, Democracy for America, approached him to tell his personal health care story to the country. He agreed and made a commercial. Mike says rising insurance costs are almost as much as his mortgage and it could put him out of business.

The health care reform ad is hitting a nerve with others all over the country. His commericial is now on www.youtube.com and has gotten almost 42-thousand hits from Wednesday the day it aired until Friday afternoon. People from all over the country are sending cards, letters and money to Mike's Ralston restaurant. They share their story and are thanking him for sharing his story.



In the ad Mike calls out Nebraska Democrat Senator Ben Nelson. Mike says, "Senator Nelson, who's side are you on anyway?" Mike says he voted for Nelson. The Senator could be the swing vote if a controversial bill makes it to Congress.

Following the airing of Mike's ad, Senator Nelson responded with his own ad. In the ad, he says he wants to help small businesses and will put Nebraska first.

Senator Nelson is out of town. But his spokeman told Action 3 News, "Nelson does not support a totally-run government plan. He's against increasing premiums or raising taxes."

Mike says, "That's why I agreed to do this... to put some pressure and make him (Senator Nelson) see there really is a need out there."

Senator Nelson called Mike after the ad aired. But Mike says he still has questions.
Nelson will hold his own town hall meetings in the state later this month---that schedule should be out next week.

Reported by Michelle Bandur;[e-mail]

[Historic NY]

1. I'll take Chef Mike anyday over joe lowlife.