OSAGE - According to Congressman Tom Latham, a bipartisan effort is needed to reform health care, but changes will be costly and so far are underfunded.

Latham spent about an hour addressing several issues Thursday at a town hall meeting in Osage. About 120 people attended.

In order to pay for reform, Latham said the Obama administration is proposing about $500 billion in new taxes and another $500 billion in cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, which leaves close to $300 billion unfunded.

Many questions remain about health care.

Sarah Elliot of Osage, a proponent of reform, said she once lived in Saudi Arabia and "in that country, universal health care works."

Latham responded with an observation of his own.

"The way I see it, if you're sick royalty in Saudi Arabia then you come here to the Mayo Clinic. What does that say about health care?" he asked.

The crowed erupted in applause.

Betty McCarthy, a former Mitchell County supervisor, criticized those on both sides of the issue.

"I came here hoping for a rational discussion," she said "I think all this partisan politics should be put aside."

Latham agreed it would be "good for everyone to just step back, slow down and take a good look at everything."

A poignant moment developed when a former employee of Cummins in Lake Mills spoke up. The company announced last week that 400 jobs will leave the country.

"I want to pay my own way, but now they've taken my job and sent it to Mexico," Sarah Harange said, her voice trembling.

Latham said the cost of manufacturing products in the U.S. "is just too high."

"And it's not about paying the employees, it's all about our business climate," he added.

Part of the problem is "high taxes, high litigation and overall cost," Latham said.