BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A panel of individuals from religious, medical and labor groups spelled out why Congress needs to pass comprehensive health care reform with a public option.

"Forty-one percent of the people here in the Central Valley in this area are not covered by insurance," said Linda Leu, health care policy specialist with Health Care for America Now.

Leu was referring to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau that show that 288,000 individuals (or 41 percent of the population) in California's 20th Congressional District do not have health insurance.

The forum was sponsored by the California Labor Federation. Bakersfield veteran Matthew Cruise related how he had to search for an insurance carrier that would cover his medication for valley fever.

Cruise said his monthly medications cost $3,000. While Cruise said he was able to get coverage because he was able to qualify, that is not the case for others.

But proponents of health care reform still have a long way to go. Local Congressman Jim Costa, D-Fresno, is not on board. Costa said he can't support President Barack Obama's plan as it now stands. That is drawing rebuke from fellow Democrats.

"If he doesn't do the right thing then we need to find somebody that will represent the constituents and not someone like him," said activist Dolores Huerta.