RESEARCH FROM YOUR UNION
The Candidates' Record On
Health Care
GEORGE W. BUSH
In almost four years in office,
Bush's only proposal to expand
access to health insurance relies
on changes in tax policy that
won't enable most uninsured
people to afford a health care
plan. (Families USA, testimony, 1/6/04)
More affordable
health care
Bush proposed a 30% cut in
funds for children's hospitals in
his 2004 budget.
Health coverage
for kids
JOHN KERRY
Kerry's common-sense plan
will provide coverage to 99% of
children and 96% of adults by
eliminating Bush's tax breaks for
the richest 1%. (Seattle Times, 3/17/04;
Philadelphia Inquirer, 5/17/03)
Plan information at www.johnkerry.com
Ig^rkerry introduced one of the
I^J first bills to expand health care
Bush signed a Medicare
prescription drug law that
provides coverage for some
seniors beginning in 2006 and
drug discount cards this year.
(Center for Budget & Policy Priorities, 12/8/03)
This Medicare plan does nothing
to rein in health care costs.
(Consumers Union, 6/27/03)
Under Bush's plan, drug
companies, HMOs and PPOs
stand to gain an estimated
$226 billion. (USAction, 11/20/03)
Bush opposed adequate
funding for health care facilities
and measures to stop the
epidemic of medical errors.
(Center for Budget and Policy Priorities)
Bush shifted money from
federal and state health care
programs to pay for tax breaks
for millionaires and wealthy
corporations.
(Kaiser Family Foundation, Families USA)
to uninsured children.
(Cong. Quarterly Weekly, 4/24/03)
(Bush 2004 Budget)
Less expensive
prescriptions
One reason health
care is in crisis:
Bush signed into law a deal
with the drug and insurance
companies from which they'll
get a windfall. Because of
deals like this, affordable
health care is not a reality in
this country.
Kerry supported a law to make
prescription drugs more
affordable for seniors on
Medicare by keeping down
drug costs while capping
out-of-pocket expenses.
(S. 812, 7/23/02)
Kerry will use the government's
purchasing power to negotiate
lower drug prices and will allow
re-importation of prescription
medicine from Canada.
(Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 1/22/04)
Protecting
Quality Care in
Hospitals &
Nursing Homes
Kerry fought to pass a law to
help reduce the national
shortage of nurses. Kerry's law
includes grants to improve
nurse retention and patient
safety. (Cong. Quarterly, 4/24/03;
www.nursingworld.org)
Kerry also fought to protect
Medicare and Medicaid from
cuts that would have drained
resources our hospitals and
nursing homes need.
(S Con Res 13, 5/22/95)
STRONGER TOGETHER
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