ALTOONA- U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell, D-Des Moines, urged Iowa union members to help Democrats push health care reforms through Congress, saying now is the time for action.

"I call on you to stand together with us, as we stand with you, and let's get it done," Boswell said during his keynote address Wednesday at the Iowa Federation of Labor's annual state convention.

Health care reform opponents showed up at town hall meetings across the country in recent weeks to voice their objections and in some cases disrupted the meetings.

Boswell sought to turn the attention back to those who are in favor of reforms.

"We're back into the bully pulpit now, and we need your support," Boswell said. "You need your support, the whole country does, to be sure that we move this ball forward."

He detailed the plight of people who are denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions and those with coverage who are denied preventative care.

Boswell reiterated his call for a public health insurance option to be part of a health care reform package to provide competition as well as make health insurance more affordable and available.

"I don't see any other way," Boswell said.

Scott Smith, a member of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades from Cedar Rapids, called Boswell's comments on the need for health care reform on target.

"I think that over a period of time, cooler heads will prevail, and everybody, I think, understands that there is some type of reform that's needed," Smith said.

Lee Thielmann of Ankeny said the union should play a big part in the health care reform fight as well.

"We need to start someplace. You know, what they came up with, I'll probably guarantee you is not going to be perfect, but if you don't have some ground rules to start and make everything better, it's not going to happen," said Thielmann, who is a member of Local 33 Plumbers and Steamfitters.