WATERLOO -- A large balloon of a child bobbed outside First United Methodist Church on Thursday night.

The size of the 15-foot-tall giant caught the attention of Mary McCalley of Cedar Falls, who was attending a public hearing on the proposed 2006 federal budget. The statistics printed on the child's chest caught hearts.

McCalley scowled as she read that 9 million children in the United States are without health insurance and that nations like Canada, Great Britain and Japan don't have that problem.

"That is awful," McCalley said, giving the balloon a little flick. Her husband, Dave, snapped a picture.

The balloon was part of a traveling display by TrueMajority, a nonprofit, education and advocacy group that advocates spending more money on health care, education and other avenues. To do so, TrueMajority suggests redirecting 15 percent or $60 billion of the Pentagon's budget, which it calls "Cold War spending."

Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream, founded TrueMajority, though it is not related to the popular ice cream company. He designed an Oreo mobile as a simple and tangible way to explain fiscal priorities. Enlarged models of the chocolate and cream cookie sandwich represents billions of dollars, which can be re-stacked under spending categories like job training or deficit.

Andrew Van Hooreweghe of Cedar Falls pondered the fiscal makeover. He isn't satisfied with government spending, particularly the levels allocated for education. But Van Hooreweghe plans to do his own research on factcheck.org -- a nonpartisan Web site that aims to reduce deception and confusion in U.S. politics. and wishes others would do the same before forming opinions.

"The biggest issue with Americans right now is finding facts," said Van Hooreweghe, a band teacher in Grundy Center.

Following the dessert demonstration, about 30 gathered inside the church to discuss how proposed budget cuts might impact people on Social Security, food stamps and Medicaid. The meeting marked the last of six public hearings in the state in two weeks, hosted by the Iowa Conference of The United Methodist Church, Iowa Citizen Action Network and other organizations.

Organizers are documenting the stories and concerns of Iowans voiced during hearings and plan to hand the information over to Iowa's political delegates. Mike Owen, assistant director of the Iowa Policy Project, hopes the concern Americans have shown for the poor in light of Hurricane Katrina will carry over into activism against poverty.

"This is a chronic condition for people in this country," Owen said.

The fear of doing without or with less federal assistance is present for those outside of poverty. Pam and Richard Ulffers of Waterloo worry about Pam's elderly mother, who depends on Social Security. They wonder if program will be there to help them and their son.

"It's three generations of concerns," Pam said.

Contact Karen Heinselman at (319) 291-1482 or karen.heinselman@wcfcourier.com.