U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke County, supports health care reform.

But to the relief of a vast majority of the nearly 600 people who attended his town hall meeting on the issue Thursday, he said he's opposed to all of the plans currently making their way through Congress.

Goodlatte's town hall, which took place at Hidden Valley High School in Roanoke County, came late in Congress' summer recess, as legislators are scheduled to return to Washington next week. President Obama is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress on health care during a prime time address on Wednesday.

Goodlatte's town hall was just as emotionally charged as those that were hosted by his two congressional neighbors -- U.S. Reps. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, and Tom Perriello, D-Albemarle County. But where their crowds were at times marked by antipathy toward the congressmen, Goodlatte's audience was largely supportive, giving him a standing ovation when he first appeared.

"I think most people agree that we need to have health care reform in this country," Goodlatte said in his opening remarks. "However, let me say that the proposal that has worked its way through the House of Representatives, right now is one that I simply cannot support."

A majority, some of whom carried signs that read "Economy Killer," "Cap & Tax" and "Socialism Isn't Cool," applauded in agreement.

Goodlatte said he's most worried that an attempt to address 10 million uninsured Americans will adversely affect the policies of 250 million others who are insured.

William Hunter agreed, saying it appeared that Congress was "taking a backhoe to a job you need a shovel for." He argued that health insurance should be handled by the states instead of the federal government, suggesting that Congress should instead look at "little pieces that will really help."

Hunter offered an example: "If I have to buy insurance myself, why can't that be tax-exempt like it is for my employer?"

That prompted Goodlatte to cite some of the "targeted changes in our laws" that he'd like to see:

n Leveling the tax playing field to offer the same incentives for individuals that are now offered to large corporations.

n Tort reform that would reduce operating costs for doctors, as well as "defensive medicine" that results in unneeded tests and procedures.

n More transparency of health care information and costs.

n Expansion of pooled coverage that would allow individuals and small businesses to band together and take advantage of economies of scale, even across state lines.

A segment of the town hall crowd did support the plan that's currently in the House, and several expressed that to Goodlatte. He responded that a government plan would put private insurers at a competitive disadvantage.

Another speaker asked about health care co-ops, which Boucher touted during a town hall in Abingdon last month as a better solution than the public option. Goodlatte said he understands that co-ops are being discussed by a bipartisan group of six senators.

"The problem with it is it's undefined," Goodlatte said. "Whether I could support that or not would depend on what that co-op looked like, but again we don't have any specific proposal that I'm aware of that I could look at."