reporter: starting in an hour, the e elephant group is going to have its weekly meeting, but frank kratovildemocrats. we expect to talk to congressman kratovil when he gets here shortly. usually these meetings have been attended by 20 people. they are expecting more this time given who the guest speaker is. kratovil will get the first 20 minutes and the next 30 minutes for an hour total, will be taken up by the elephant members of the club. they hope to keep things moving but i know all summer long it hasn't necessarily been that easy to do. we have seen kratovil events this summary involve into shouting matches and battles between protesters and activities on different sides. debate. we asked a member of the elephant club a little bit ago how they expect to keep the circus to a minut minute minimu. >> it's a church and we hope not to have protesters. we told frank kratovil office, and we're going into the church ask we're not going to allow protesters and people with signs like that. >> reporter: it's an event that is open to the public. anyone with $4 can come inside and ask the question

one of those freshman democrats is maryland's frank kratovil, who joins us in the studio tonight.sir, thank you for being here. >> happy to be here. >> let's start on health care. everybody sort of assumes there will be a bill. what do you think is going to be in the brill? >> it's hard to tell now. we have had so many different proposals. you will see a moderation of the original house bill. the baccus brill that came outside, there are big differences. and there are employer mandate differences between the two, so ultimately, i think, my pre dick hundred is you are going to see something through the house, pass the house and the final version will be something more compromised. >> how do you feel about idea that mandated coverage or individuals go buy coverage they are penalized. >> if you look at the president in his address, he said there's 80% that most people agree on in terms of these proposals. 80% might be too high but this is a lot reasonable people agree on. one is the individual mandate. i did 12 town halls across my district as you probably know. some of those got a l

frank kratovil met with a small group of republicans in saverna park today. and met with the elephant club. 20 people show up to talk about current events but toed the group expected more since congressman kratovil was the scheduled guest. he said one of the biggest concerns is the cost of the plan. >> i mean as you know i am a blue dog democrat. and our focus is on the deficit and fiscal responsibility. and i think, you know, whatever we do, we have to make sure that we're not increasing the deficit, and we're not there yet. >> kratovil also said there are a lot of reform ideas that both sides can agree on. >> well, tell lawmakers what you think. go to foxbaltimore.com/your voice. >> one piece of health care reform that has not gotten a lot of discussion yet is tort reform. some say changing that practice laws could save billons. we will look at tort trouble. it is tonight's cover story in 15 minutes on fox 45 news at 10:00. >> in other news today. a teen will be charged as an adult for a deadly shooting this month in northwest baltimore. stein-year-old anth

drive down the cost of coverage by making sure that we have competition out there had. >> ask frank kratovil should do health care reform. a guy who was hung in effigy, a guy who had a number of town hall meets, ask him how he came back in september to congress to deal with health care reform. i think you'll get your respens. >> i spoke to him 15 minutes ago and he said the public option is one thing and the cost is another thing. >> it is. that's why we're having a caucus tomorrow. listen, people came back, there are a number of concerns about small businessmen and small business in general that have to be clarified, a number of issues as you heard the speaker outlining yesterday, that we still have to come together as we meld these three bills but we're coming together with the spirit of cooperation and not only the spirit of cooperation, the spirit of can-do, because we know the importance of getting this job done. this is not -- some have said this is about the obama presidency or about the congress, this is about the american people. and story after story after story that members got up

been possible without the assistance of my co-captain, brad ellsworth, and members, jeff flake, frank kratovil, member amayor tuss kenny holsoff. i want to thank georgetown high school. coach karl hbo from george washington. dave -- karl hobb from george washington. the american league of lobbyists, especially dave miller and dave winegold. over 1 is years of ch charity event, we -- of this charity event, we raised over $400,000 and money going to horton's kids, servant christian foundation, st. anthony scholarship fund, washington jesuit academy and the luke tiahrt foundation. the chair: the gentleman will suspend. the committee will be in order. mr. shimkus: and i want to thank my colleagues for their support. i yield back my time. the chair: without objection, five-minute voting will continue. the unfinished business is the request for a recorded vote on amendment number 12 printed in house report 111-255 by the gentleman from new york, mr. massa on which further proceedings postponed and on which the ayes prevailed by voice vote. the clerk will redesignate the amendment. the clerk: amendme