Bruce Lunsford on Health Care

Democratic Senate challenger

McConnell is bought and paid for by drug companies

During the forum, the candidates agreed on several broad policy issues, such as eliminating the capital gains tax. But they frequently traded shots over each other's political backers. Lunsford repeated his claim that McConnell is "bought and paid for" by special interests such as drug companies and the oil industry, while McConnell described Lunsford as a patsy of labor unions. Source: 2008 Kentucky Senate debate reported in Herald-Leader Aug 21, 2008

Make Medicare and prescription drug benefit work for seniors

Kentucky's seniors deserve access to quality, affordable medical care. When Bush, McConnell, and the big drug company lobbyists worked together to change Medicare in 2003, they included billions of dollars in loopholes that benefitted the drug companies. Of course, McConnell is the beneficiary of campaign contributions from the pharmaceutical industry. McConnell and the Bush Administration's inaction on ensuring the solvency of the Medicare system have led to the near depletion of resources in the Medicare trust fund. A recent study by the Social Security and Medicare trustees predicts that the Medicare trust fund will run out of money by the year 2019. We can't let that happen. We must fight to change the Medicare system and close the loopholes that prevent Medicare from using its negotiating power to purchase drugs at a lower cost & prohibit the re-importation of safe prescription drugs from Canada. Kentucky's seniors should not have to pay exorbitantly high prices for their prescription drugs Source: Campaign website, www.bruce2008.com, "Issues" Jun 3, 2008

McConnell gets first-class healthcare paid for by you and me

It is completely unacceptable that here in the US, 47 million Americans, including 9 million children and 500,000 Kentuckians, have no health insurance. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable, quality health care. If other nations can do it, so can we. One of the big reasons why Washington fails to provide universal health care is that politicians like McConnell get gold-plated, first-class health insurance paid for by you and me. Source: Campaign website, www.bruce2008.com, "Issues" Jun 3, 2008

Start our children on the path to good health

Every child deserves access to health care. McConnell has repeatedly opposed efforts to expand health care to 3.8 million of the nation's uninsured children. We must work to expand SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program). This is not only morally right, but economically sensible, as it allows health problems to be addressed at an early stage, eliminating costly, last-minute intervention. We can also help the next generation live longer, healthier lives by encouraging better diets. Source: Campaign website, www.bruce2008.com, "Issues" Jun 3, 2008

Let Medicare negotiate re-importation from Canada

Mitch McConnell is the beneficiary of campaign contributions from the pharmaceutical industry, which may explain why he is putting the drug companies ahead of the public. We must fight to change the Medicare system and close the loopholes that prevent Medicare from using its negotiating power to purchase drugs at a lower cost and prohibit the re-importation of safe prescription drugs from Canada. Kentucky's seniors should not have to pay exorbitantly high prices for their prescription drugs Source: Campaign website, www.bruce2008.com, "Issues" May 2, 2008

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*Other candidates on Health Care:*		*Bruce Lunsford on other issues:*
*KY Gubernatorial:* Steve Beshear *KY Senatorial:* Jim Bunning Mitch McConnell *2008 Senate retirements:* Wayne Allard(R,CO) Larry Craig(R,ID) Pete Domenici(R,NM) Chuck Hagel(R,NE) Trent Lott(R,MS) Craig Thomas(R,WY) John Warner(R,VA) *Incoming Obama Administration:* Pres.Barack Obama V.P.Joe Biden State:Hillary Clinton HHS:Tom Daschle Staff:Rahm Emanuel DHS:Janet Napolitano DOC:Bill Richardson DoD:Robert Gates A.G.:Eric Holder Treas.:Tim Geithner	*Winners of 2008 Senate Races:* ( * if new to the Senate) AK:Begich over Stevens AL:Sessions AR:Pryor CO:Udall DE:Biden and Kaufman GA:Chambliss v.Martin (Dec. 2 runoff) IA:Harkin ID:Risch IL:Durbin KS:Roberts KY:McConnell LA:Landrieu MA:Kerry ME:Collins MI:Levin MN:Coleman v.Franken (recounting as of Dec.1) MS4:Wicker MS6:Cochran MT:Baucus NC:Hagan over Dole NE:Johanns NH:Shaheen over Sununu NJ:Lautenberg NM:Udall OK:Inhofe OR:Merkley over Smith RI:Reed SC:Graham SD:Johnson TN:Alexander TX:Cornyn VA:*Warner WV:Rockefeller WY4:Barrasso WY6:Enzi	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Jobs Principles Social Security Tax Reform Technology War/Peace Welfare Other Senators House of Representatives SenateMatch (matching quiz) Senate Votes (analysis) House Votes Bill Sponsorships Affiliations Policy Reports Group Ratings

Page last updated: Dec 02, 2008