Jim Holt on Health Care

Real the Prescription Drug benefit

I will shrink the federal government by repealing the Prescription Drug benefit. Source: Campaign website, JimHolt.us, "Issues" Jul 12, 2004

Turn the FDA into an optional agency

I would turn the FDA into an optional agency that is partly financed by the drug companies. If they wanted the "FDA Seal of Approval" they would pay for the testing. If they did not, they could market it "not FDA approved." I'd also lower barriers to obtaining drugs from Canada. For many people, that will reduce drug prices more than the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Source: Campaign website, JimHolt.us, "Issues" Jul 12, 2004

Prescription Drug benefit costs too much

If you think health care and prescription drugs are expensive now, wait until they're `free.' The cost is now $600 billion and climbing with no negotiating power between big pharmaceutical companies and the government. We've basically written them a blank check. Remember, it was only predicted to cost $300 billion over 10 years. It is forcing the taxpayers to foot the bill for big companies. Many of these companies already have prescription drug plans for their retirees. Source: Campaign website, JimHolt.us, "Issues" Jul 12, 2004

Stop giving a free ride in medical R&D to other countries

If the consumer wants to take that risk, it should be up to them, provided it is a non-addicting drug. We as a nation need to stop giving a free ride to other countries with respect to our research and development. They `procure' our technology, copy it, then mass-produce it at a fraction of the cost. This must stop. How do we do that? I'm not quite sure yet. Our team is researching and analyzing though. Source: Campaign website, JimHolt.us, "Issues" Jul 12, 2004

Prices of prescription drugs should not be controlled

The government should not control prices of prescription drugs. If we did that then some drug prices would be too high (when the drug companies lobbied the government decision-makers effectively). If drug prices were set too low, incentive to spend the money needed for better drugs would be hurt. This would lead to a lack of availability. Source: Campaign website, JimHolt.us, "Issues" Jul 12, 2004

Taxpayers should not be asked to pay for other's health care

Government cannot create wealth, only (justly) protect it or (unjustly) redistribute it. Anything the government does for one American will be done at the expense of another. It is well known that when another person pays, it leads to over consumption and waste. It's the old "If you are buying, I'll have the steak and lobster" mentality. There may be some tax code changes in order to give individuals a chance to get deductions for purchasing insurance as their employer would for providing it for them. Source: Campaign website, JimHolt.us, "Issues" Jul 12, 2004

Medical marijuana should be a state decision--I'd vote no

Marijuana use for pain relief should be a state decision, not a federal one. As it stands now, I'd vote `no' as an Arkansas Senator. Source: Campaign website, JimHolt.us, "Issues" Jul 12, 2004

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