Elizabeth Edwards talks health care

Elizabeth Edwards talks health care
By Jens Manuel Krogstad--(Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA) Courier
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
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WATERLOO--At the opening of her husband's Waterloo campaign office, Elizabeth Edwards proved she possesses a firm grasp of major policy issues, answering in detail questions ranging from health care to Iraq.

Edwards filled in Tuesday for her husband, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, who was campaigning in Texas. The couple will return to Iowa this weekend for a barnstorm tour that does not include a stop in the Cedar Valley.

The campaign also announced chairs in each of Iowa's 99 counties. Longtime Democratic activists Russ and Joy Lowe will co-chair the Black Hawk County campaign effort.

In addition to pulling troops out of Iraq and closing the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba, Elizabeth Edwards said one of the first things her husband will do if elected president is bring his universal health care proposal before Congress.

"Also on the first-day agenda is using that honeymoon period to get health care in front of Congress, so we can get universal health care passed immediately," she said.
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Many in the crowd of about 50 showed up with health care on their minds. Godert VanDerHart of Waterloo, 83, said he learned of the convoluted health care system when his wife, who has since died, suffered a stroke five years ago. It's now a top issue for him.

"He's the strongest on the health care issue," he said. "There's always been talk (of reform), but I'd like to see some action."
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When he unveiled his proposal, John Edwards said the program would be paid for with taxes, arguing the benefit of universal health care outweighs the cost. He has said the $90 billion to $120 billion annual cost could be paid for by eliminating President Bush's tax cuts on households earning more than $200,000 and by collecting unpaid capital gains taxes.

Elizabeth Edwards also sharply criticized the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. She said if it weren't for her and her sister, her parents would vastly overpay for prescription drugs because they can't make decisions independently for health reasons.

"It's entirely too complex and too punitive. If my parents are stymied by this stuff, and they are, each month they delay (in choosing a plan) would cost them more money, and not more money just on the front end, more money for the rest of their lives."
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and a wonderful asset to John!