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Health Care

Health care is emerging as perhaps the most critical domestic issue for 2008. Positions on health care are largely divided along partisan lines, with Democrats believing strongly in expanded government-funded or mandated health care and Republicans believing in free-market solutions. All candidates agree insurance costs can be lowered by increased preventative care, new tax credits and modernized, streamlined administration resulting in greater efficiency.


Democratic Stand on Health Care

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Hillary's health care plan would cover all Americans - it offers a choice to keep existing insurance, choose from the same insurance available to members of Congress or opt-in to public insurance. It is non-discriminatory and portable. Her plan would be financed from "modernizing" the health system (i.e. electronic records) and redirected tax breaks.

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Mike Gravel

Gravel advocates a universal health care voucher program. The federal government would issue health care vouchers to all Americans, and Americans would be free to use the vouchers (as a supplement) to choose their own health care professional.

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Barack Obama

Senator Obama's goal is to implement affordable, portable health coverage for all by the end of his first term. His plan would create a national health program with subsidies, an insurance exchange to reform the private market, and would expand Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). It would not mandate coverage for all.

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Republican Stand on Health Care

Mike Huckabee

Huckabee believes getting serious about preventative health care will bring the costs of chronic disease down. He advocates policies that will encourage free-market solutions and leave government controls out, except for providing tax credits for low-income families.

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John McCain

McCain believes Americans should have access to affordable health care in a free market system with tax credits, rewards for health and fitness and improved electronic administration. However, he supports reauthorization of the SCHIP as a safety net for a vulnerable population.

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Ron Paul

Dr. Ron Paul believes in using legislation to make insurance more affordable. He opposes increasing FDA's legal powers, supports expanding the ability of Americans to use alternative medicine and new treatments and would ensure Americans receive truthful information about supplements and natural remedies.

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Mitt Romney

Romney believes we can improve the health of our nation through market reforms (not government programs) that extend health insurance to all Americans. He believes individuals should have responsibility for their own health care.

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