Washington Post Profiles Vermont Governor

The Washington Post on July 12 profiles Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (D), who in seeking his party's 2004 presidential nomination has been touting his achievements on several social issues, including health care, during his 11-year tenure as governor. Dean, a physician by training, advocates universal health care, and while campaigning, often tells audiences that Vermont is moving in that direction. According to Dean, Vermont has insured 96% of children under age 18, "and 3% of the other 4% are eligible for insurance" through state programs. The Post reports that at most campaign stops, Dean touts his "three-part plan for national health care." Under that plan, which would be modeled after Vermont's program, states would provide health coverage to all residents ages 22 and younger. States' costs would be offset by a plan to relieve them of any financial responsibility for Medicare beneficiaries who are dually eligible for Medicaid. Dean also would add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare that would be bigger than the plan passed last month by the House but smaller than a plan being offered by Senate Democrats. Dean's health care proposal also calls for an expansion of the current employer-based coverage system by offering subsidies to small businesses, the self-employed and part-time workers. To cover the cost of his plan, Dean would roll back almost all of President Bush's 2001 tax cut. Dean said, "I don't shy away from telling people my positions. In Washington, it pays you to blur the edges of issues. I can't do that as governor, and I won't do it as a presidential candidate" (Broder, Washington Post, 7/12).