John Ashcroft on Health Care Former Attorney General; Former Republican Senator (MO)

Voted against penalties on tobacco companies

Medicare lockbox; more funding too

Major Accomplishments in the US Senate: SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE
• Authored and passed the first Medicare Lockbox to prevent Washington spending raids on the Medicare Trust Fund.
  
• Helped to secure increased Medicare funding, resulting in an average increase to Medicare recipients of $1,725 per person.
• Successfully worked to extend solvency of Social Security and Medicare, with Medicare solvency extended by 23 years to 2025, and Social Security by 8 years, to 2037.

Sole committee vote against 1998 McCain tobacco bill

$150M for basic health care for uninsured

A. Because of our state’s limited government resources, it is important to focus on children whose families cannot afford health insurance. I support initiatives that give uninsured families more options to obtain health insurance, such as allowing full deductibility for health insurance costs for families headed by self-employed individuals, and health insurance tax deductions/credits for families who cannot obtain coverage from an employer. I continue to strongly support funding increases for consolidated health centers, which give uninsured individuals - including children - access to basic health care. Most recently I called for a $150 million increase in community health centers funding for FY2001.

Voted NO on including prescription drugs under Medicare.

Voted YES on limiting self-employment health deduction.

Voted NO on increasing tobacco restrictions.

Voted YES on Medicare means-testing.

Voted NO on blocking medical savings acounts.