The 500-seat auditorium was filled to capacity with a standing-room-only crowd that appeared to be split down the middle on the controversial health care reform bill being debated in the nation's capital.

The tone of audience members was, for the most part, respectful and civil.

Upon entering the school, attendees who wished to question Rep. Murphy were asked to write their names on a card and put the cards in one of three boxes: for, against and undecided.

An aide picked names in rotation from each box through the course of the meeting.

Rep. Murphy was introduced by Roxbury First Selectman Barbara Henry, a Republican, who said she is opposed to the current plan, which she believes "needs to be tweaked."

After a brief opening statement, Rep. Murphy opened the floor to questions, and there were many.

The first, from Edwin Schulman of Roxbury, elicited Rep. Murphy's strongest statement of the evening.

Asked to comment on the federal health care plan that covers members of Congress, Rep. Murphy pledged to return to Washington next week and call upon the members of Congress to remove themselves from the federal system and take part in the insurance exchange, or public option, in the House version of the health care reform bill, if it is enacted.

Rep. Murphy believes a key component of reform is forcing insurance companies to compete with each other and a government-sponsored plan through a health insurance exchange.

"For people and businesses that choose to go into the exchange, they will have access to better and cheaper coverage than they have today," he said.

"There is no reason why members of Congress shouldn't go into the exchange and choose between the public option and private plans like everyone else."

Rep. Murphy believes that if the members of Congress join the plan, they will be "better stewards" of it.

"This would give people the ability to choose a government-sponsored plan not very different from the one government employees have now," he explained, adding this would be the only not-for-profit component.

"Many people think government will do a terrible job running health care, so a public option tests those arguments. If government can't run an insurance plan required to pay for itself only by the premiums it collects, it will be priced out of existence.

"But if it's better care, people should have the option to choose that if they want to.

"I am not for a public option that puts private insurers out of business. I'm for a public option that gives people the right to choose," he stressed.

"If the public option doesn't work, it will go out of business. It has to rise or fall on its own merits. That's not the case with Social Security or Medicare, where it's not your money that pays the benefits, it's the current money in the system."

Asked to explain how the plan will affect the nation's deficit, Rep. Murphy said it is important to look at the 10- to 20-year window proposed, over which time many other costs will be reduced.

"If we can get people who don't have insurance and preventative care, they won't be as likely to end up in Emergency Rooms with bigger problems later on. That will create a cost savings for the system."

He stressed "vast disparities" across the country in what is spent for health care, noting that some parts of the country spend three times as much as others.

"Some of this is the result of fraud and abuse, and some from physicians and hospitals billing for extras that don't add value to care. We're going to try and change how we pay for things to add value to the system, rather than just volume," he said.

Rep. Murphy maintained that health care reform would preserve Medicare for people who have it and allow the first increase in reimbursement for physicians since 2003.

Elaine Pascoe of Roxbury asked if the plan will cover the gap for people aged 60 to 64, who currently have great difficulty securing reasonably priced health insurance.

Rep. Murphy agreed that people between 55 and 64 are paying the most for health care.

"Insurance companies are allowed now to set your premium based on how healthy you are. This bill says if you don't have insurance, no matter how old you are, you can buy into the insurance exchange.

"If you make an income that qualifies, you can also get tax credit to help you pay for it. The tax credits become more generous as your income gets less to buy insurance, and to make sure insurance covers your medical bills.

"It's about making insurance fair again," he said. "The bill would require companies to stop pricing policies on how sick or healthy you are."

In answer to other questions, Rep. Murphy said the bill will ban time limits on coverage and eliminate preexisting condition exclusions.

The cost of medical malpractice insurance came up frequently in the discussion. One speaker asked if there is a reluctance in Washington to go after tort reform as part of the health care bill.

"You can't read this bill any other way," admitted Rep. Murphy. "I've been clear about that. There needs to be malpractice reform in this bill and it's a mistake to pass a bill that doesn't include it.

"Whatever number defensive cost adds to the system is real. I do think there are members of Congress who would rather push that aside. But I've heard it loud and clear from the people I represent and will bring that message back to Washington."

One speaker observed that the proposed bill is hard to understand, and questioned trust in government.

"There hasn't been a good job done explaining this to people," Rep. Murphy said. "When it's taken apart piece by piece, people understand it. All together, it's overwhelming.

"The system in Washington isn't a pretty one, with committees and layers of bureaucracy. We want to do this soon so more businesses don't go under because of health care costs, but I want a good bill, not a quick one.

"It's important when we get back to take the time to do it right. I hope we will take the time to continue this debate."

Rep. Murphy promised timely updates on his website as the bill progresses, www.chrismurphy. house.gov, and invited residents to e-mail or call him with their ideas or to discuss the issue. Additional contact information is listed on the website.