Presidential Candidates Discuss Health Care Proposals

Summaries of several recent developments related to health care in the presidential election appear below.

• Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.): Clinton on Monday released a pamphlet that details her health care proposal and other plans in her economic package. According to the 13-page pamphlet, over the past seven years, health care companies have "been given a free pass to profit, often at the expense of the American worker," and Clinton would "make it a priority to scale back special benefits and subsidies" to such companies. The pamphlet also states that Clinton would seek to "take back at least $55 billion per year from drug" and other companies (Fouhy, AP/Austin American-Statesman, 2/18). Over the weekend, Clinton sent a mailer to Wisconsin voters that criticized opponent Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on his health care proposal, which would not require all U.S. residents to obtain health insurance. The mailer pictures seven individuals under the headline, "Barack Obama, which of these people don't deserve health care?" The mailer also states that the Obama proposal says, "No, we can't have universal coverage" (Bellantoni, Washington Times, 2/18). Clinton on Monday aired television advertisements in several Wisconsin districts that criticize the Obama proposal and that claim he has refused to debate her on health care and other issues (Mosk/Slevin, Washington Post, 2/19). In Texas last week, former President Bill Clinton, her husband, promoted her health care proposal at several campaign events (Tomaso, Dallas Morning News, 2/16).
  
  
• Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.): McCain, the likely Republican presidential nominee, on Sunday said that he would debate either Clinton or Obama on health care issues and that their proposals would expand the role of government in health care. During an appearance on ABC's "This Week," McCain said, "They want the government to run the health care system in America. I want the families to make the choice." He added, "If we bring health care costs under control, and give families choices, and have medical malpractice reform ... we can preserve the highest-quality health care in the world in America." In addition, McCain said, "If you like Senator Obama's plan and Senator Clinton's plan, go to Canada or one of the European countries before you make that decision" (Curl, Washington Times, 2/18). At a La Cross, Wis., town hall meeting on Friday, McCain said that the Clinton proposal would "ratchet up the costs" of health insurance and that he would reduce health care costs through increased use of health savings accounts and increased focus on fitness and wellness (Fredrix, AP/St. Paul Pioneer Press, 2/15).
  
  
• Obama: Obama on Friday said that Clinton failed to pass health care reform legislation in the 1990s because of her focus on partisan politics. At a campaign event in Milwaukee, Obama said, "Hollering at Republicans and engaging in petty partisan politics didn't help health care get done." He added, "We don't need more fighting. ... We need some getting together, solving some problems" (Tayler, Long Island Newsday, 2/16).

Broadcast Coverage
NPR's "All Things Considered" on Friday included a commentary by Douglas Kamerow, chief scientist for RTI International and a former assistant surgeon general, about the presidential candidates' health care proposals. According to Kamerow, candidates' proposals "ignore" the issue of primary care (Kamerow, "All Things Considered," NPR, 2/15). Audio of the segment is available online.

NPR's "Day to Day" on Friday included a discussion with NPR health policy correspondent Julie Rovner about the candidates' health care proposals (Brand, "Day to Day," NPR, 2/15). Audio of the segment is available online.