By Steve Peoples

State Republican Party Chairman Giovanni Cicione said he hopes angry protesters will flood Wednesday night's town hall meeting hosted by Congressman James R. Langevin.

The 6 p.m. event at the Warwick City Hall is the first opportunity that most Rhode will have to comment on and ask questions about health care legislation moving through Congress. The meeting had been planned for the Warwick Police Headquarters but Langevin's office moved it to City Hall in anticipation of a large crowd.

"This is the clearest example in decades of the government exceeding its authority. I think this should make people really angry," Cicione said, noting that he would be out of town, but that conservative groups -- such as the Rhode Island Young Republicans and Rhode Island Tea Party movement -- are mobilizing their forces to attend.

"This is America, we have First Amendment rights to protest," Cicione continued. "The citizenry has the right to go out and shout at the top of their lungs."

Rhode Island's Congressional delegation was critical last week when asked about angry protests across the country at similar town hall meetings. Protesters have heckled and booed members of Congress, warning of "death panels" and flashing signs such as "No Nazi Health Care."

"It's not fair to people who come with serious questions and want to get answers to have it totally theatrical and non-communicative," Sen. Jack Reed said.

But Cicione disagrees with Reed's basic premise.

"The town halls were always about political theater intended to garner support," Cicione said. "These town halls were never about debate. We're not stifling debate."

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse is planning a community dinner at 6 p.m. Thursday at the West Warwick Senior Center to discuss health care reform. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy and Sen. Jack Reed have not scheduled any such public events.