Congressman Adam Putnam today welcomed constituents from the 12^th District and other Floridians who joined thousands of people on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol today to voice their opposition to the health care reform legislation (HR 3692) introduced by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“All these people have traveled from near and far to come here to make their voices heard, and that speaks volumes,” said Putnam.  “The American people want their Congress to act responsibly.  They want Congress to pass legislation that addresses specific needs without a massive expansion of government bureaucracy that will create 111 new offices, bureaus, commissions, and programs, impose more than $700 billion in new taxes on small businesses and individuals, and slam already struggling state budgets with tens of billions of dollars in unfunded federal mandates.

“Peacefully assembling and speaking out to our elected representation is not only a right guaranteed to all Americans by the Constitution, it is a vibrant and integral part of a democratic society.”

Since 2001, Putnam has represented Florida’s 12^th Congressional District, which includes most of Polk County and portions of Hillsborough and Osceola counties.