Road to White House: Where they stand

November 26, 2007

(SignOnSanDiego.com)
Compiled by staff writer John Marelius

ISSUE: HEALTH CARE

REPUBLICANS

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: Proposes tax deduction of $7,500 for people who don’t have employer-based health insurance. Opposes government-run program, but favors giving health care vouchers to poor people. Favors expanding tax-free health savings accounts and capping noneconomic malpractice damages.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: Says guaranteeing health care isn’t the government’s responsibility. Says health care could be made more affordable by limiting medical liability, adopting electronic record-keeping, focusing on prevention. Says health insurance should be deductible for families and transferable among jobs.

Rep. Duncan Hunter of Alpine: Says health insurance would be more affordable if it were available across state lines. Voted against increasing funding for State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Voted to limit damages in medical malpractice suits. Voted to ban physician-assisted suicide.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona: Says affordable health care can be made available to all Americans without government-mandated system. Proposes $2,500 tax credit to help individuals buy health insurance. Would help pay for plan by eliminating employers’ health insurance deduction. Voted against Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Rep. Ron Paul of Texas: Voted against capping malpractice damages. Voted for tax-exempt medical savings accounts. Voted against a ban on physician-assisted suicide. Favors abolishing Medicare and leaving it to the states.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: Says health insurance should be extended to all Americans through “market reforms,” not new taxes or a new government program. Implemented plan in Massachusetts that makes health insurance mandatory and subsidizes some premiums.

Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado: Favors health insurance pools for people not covered by employers. Voted to limit malpractice damages. Voted for tax-exempt medical savings accounts. Voted to ban physician-assisted suicide.

Former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee: Opposes a “one-size-fits-all, Washington-controlled program.” Says affordable health insurance can be guaranteed by streamlining existing programs and shifting focus to prevention and chronic-care management. Voted against medical savings accounts.

DEMOCRATS

Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware: Wants to move toward a national health care system. Voted to expand the SCHIP. Voted for Medicare prescription drug benefit. Voted for negotiating bulk purchases of prescription drugs.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York: Would set goal of universal health coverage by the end of a second term. Wants to require people to buy health insurance and require companies to provide coverage regardless of medical history. Voted against capping malpractice awards. Voted for importing prescription drugs from Canada.

Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut: Would extend congressional health care plan to all Americans. Favors extending Medicare and Medicaid to more families and expanding SCHIP. Sponsoring bill for paid family and medical leave. Favors prohibiting denial of health insurance on the basis of medical history.

Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina: Would begin putting universal health care in place as soon as he takes office. Proposes paying for plan by repealing Bush tax cut on people earning more than $200,000 a year. Employers would be required to cover employees or pay into a fund. The federal government would set up health care markets so people could choose either a private or government plan. Low-income families would qualify for health insurance subsidies. Former Sen. Mike Gravel of Alaska: Proposes a single-payer health care plan through a voucher system with a modest co-payment and deductible. People could pay extra for another plan. Voucher size would be determined by a computerized database of everyone’s medical history.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio: Proposes “Medicare for all” – a not-for-profit national health care system with no role for private insurance companies. Would tax employers for prescription drug coverage and regulate drug prices. Voted against limits on malpractice suits. Voted against physician-assisted suicide.

Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois: Proposes creating a national health insurance pool and subsidizing those who can’t afford available group rates. Would not mandate coverage. Would require employers to offer insurance or pay into a fund. Would place greater emphasis on prevention, chronic-care management, technology.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson: Proposes moving toward universal health care by starting with insuring all children under age 5, all working adults and the chronically unemployed. Says it can be accomplished without new taxes. Would give veterans vouchers for health care anywhere, not just VA facilities.