THE RAW DEAL: John Kerry's Lack Of Credibility On Health Care Costs

George W. Bush ^ | September 9, 2004

[RWR8189]

"John Kerry's attacks on health care costs ignore his opposition to the President's Medicare bill that will guarantee seniors affordable prescription drugs, his opposition to $25 billion in funding for rural health care and his opposition to medical liability reform that would curb the frivolous lawsuits costing Americans as much as $108 billion each year. It's not surprising voters are having so much trouble trusting a candidate whose government-run health care plan would shift costs to taxpayers while empowering Washington bureaucrats."

-Steve Schmidt, Bush-Cheney '04 Spokesman

Kerry Opposed Medicare Prescription Drug Bill, Skipped Nearly Every Vote

Kerry Missed 36 Of 38 Votes On Medicare Reform And Prescription Drug Benefit, Including Final Passage Of Bill.

Kerry Voted Twice Against $25 Billion Rural Health Care Package. Kerry voted twice against a Medicare Bill in the Senate Finance Committee that contained a $25 billion rural package to increase Medicare reimbursements to states like Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin that helps equalize Medicare reimbursements in urban and rural areas. (David Pitt, "Grassley Medicare Package Faces Tough Battle In House," The Associated Press, 6/13/03)

Kerry Opposes Medical Liability Reform

Kerry Opposed Or Voted To Block Medical Liability Reform At Least Ten Times.

• Kerry Missed Both 2004 Votes On Medical Liability Reform. The February 2004 vote was a motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill that would place caps on damage awards in medical malpractice lawsuits against obstetricians and gynecologists. The April 2004 vote was a motion to invoke cloture on a similar bill that would curb awards against emergency and trauma center personnel, as well as ob-gyns.

Medical Liability Reform Will Reduce Health Care Costs For American Families

Medical Liability Reform Could Save Between $60 Billion And $108 Billion In Health Care Costs Annually, Making Health Insurance More Affordable For Millions. "The [medical malpractice] litigation system also imposes large indirect costs on the health care system. Defensive medicine that is caused by unlimited and unpredictable liability awards not only increases patients' risk but it also adds costs. The leading study estimates that limiting unreasonable awards for non-economic damages could reduce health care costs by 5-9% without adversely affecting quality of care. This would save $60-108 billion in health care costs each year. These savings would lower the cost of health insurance and permit an additional 2.4-4.3 million Americans to obtain insurance." ("Confronting The New Health Care Crisis: Improving Health Care Quality And Lowering Costs By Fixing Our Medical Liability System," U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services, 7/25/02)

Obstetricians And Gynecologists Are Not Supporting John Kerry

For 2003, Kerry Received Lowest Rating (Zero) From American College Of Obstetricians And Gynecologists (ACOG). (Project Vote Smart Website, www.vote-smart.org, Accessed 2/5/04)

• ACOG's Top Legislative Priority For 108th Congress Is Medical Liability Reform. (American College Of Obstetricians And Gynecologists Website, www.acog.org, Accessed 2/19/04)

Lawyers Have Donated More To Kerry Than Any Other Senator Over The Past 15 Years

Since 1989, Kerry Has Received $15,217,154 From Lawyers, Most Of Any Senator In That Time Period. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 8/16/04)

• Kerry's Presidential Campaign Has Received $13,838,965 From Lawyers. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 8/16/04)

DNC Has Raised Over $2.2 Million From Trial Lawyers This Cycle. (Dwight L. Morris & Associates Website, www.campaignfinanceanalysisproject.com, Accessed 9/6/04)

[Frank_2001]

Plus an ambulance chaser for VP. JEffin' has zero credibility on this issue.

(as well as on any other issue!)

[blondee123]

I saw a report on TV today, that Kerrys wife is out touting his health care plan. BUT, she does not say where the MONEY will come from for it! The dems are so stupid, they are buying into this???? Remember Old Crusty was going to have a health plan in place for Bubba too!! They never learn!

[blondee123]

PING!