THOMASVILLE — Opponents of the health care reform bills currently being considered In the U.S. Congress are encouraged to join an invigorated, bipartisan Freedom Line.

Freedom Line organizer Kim Weckwert said the group is set to return to the front of Rep. Sanford Bishop’s Thomasville office Monday through Friday from 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.

“With the House bill scheduled to come to a vote on Friday, we’ve got to get out there,” Weckwert said. “Time is of the essence.”

The Freedom Line originated on July 17 with 20 members and grew to more than 200 while convening at 137 E. Jackson St. on five successive Fridays. The protesters drew honks of approval from passing motorists while gathering hundreds of signatures for a petition that was sent to Bishop.

“We took a break because we want to be as effective as possible,” Weckwert said. “We felt like we would become insignificant if we stayed out there too much.”

Weckwert is inviting citizens of all political persuasions to join the Freedom Line. She is making a special effort to lure more Democrats.

“There are a lot of Republicans and Democrats who agree these bills are bad for our country,” she said.

Weckwert has not read the House bill yet, but she doesn’t like what she has heard about it via news reports. She plans to examine the 1,900-plus page document over the weekend.

“Our way of life is threatened by this legislation. It can drastically alter our way of life — and not for the better,” she said. “It also disregards the Constitution.”

Weckwert plans to call at least one prominent Democrat today to gauge his interest in the Freedom Line. She also welcomes Democrats to call her at 229-224-3024.

The local battle against the bills requires more than just letters to the editor and anonymous Rant & Rave submissions, Weckwert said.

“If you are conservative — Republican or Democrats — we need you,” she added. “People are expecting somebody else to fight for them. The ones who call Rant & Rave need to be the first ones out there (protesting). We all have to take responsibility.

“If this legislation is going to be blocked, it will require individual action by a lot of people.”