Give ’em credit for trying again.

About 800 Mainers will meet today to discuss “Tough Choices in Health Care,” a high-tech symposium designed to bring people together to talk about the state’s approach to a growing problem.

The meeting was originally scheduled for March, but bad weather forced organizers from the Governor’s Office of Health Policy and Finance to cancel. The project is worthwhile, and it’s good to see that it will finally be held.

“Tough Choices” was initiated by Gov. John Baldacci to expand the number of people participating in the debate about health care. Invitations were sent out to people picked specifically to ensure that a broad cross section of state residents participates. The intent was to make sure the typical movers and shakers on health care can’t dominate the discussion, while opening the floor to people who might not normally have a forum to voice their opinions. Representatives were selected from around the state and represent different demographic groups.

Participants will gather in Orono and Biddeford, and the two sites will be connected using the Internet for a live, electronic town hall-style forum. Comments from the event will be used to help develop the state’s State Health Plan, which is described as a road map to improve health and health care delivery.

No doubt there’s PR value to the exercise, but there’s also real value in adding people to the dialogue on the most pressing issue facing the state.