Elizabeth Edwards ties economy to health care

RALEIGH, N.C. - Elizabeth Edwards tied the nation's lagging economy to its struggling health care system Tuesday as she joined an effort in battleground states to discredit the health care proposals of Republican presidential candidate John McCain.


Elizabeth Edwards said during a conference call Tuesday that medical bills often lead to foreclosure, a primary factor in the lagging housing market that's led to the demise of several Wall Street firms. Those without health insurance are often less productive, she said, because they miss work after failing to get treatment.

"Reform of our health care system is a very important part of the answers we're going to need to solve our economic woes," she said.

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"Sen. McCain's health care plan is truly a radical health care plan," she said. "It's rooted in free-market ideology, but it is nothing related to actually being free because it's going to cost the American public at every turn."

McCain backs a $5,000 annual tax credit to help individuals and families afford health insurance. However, that could lead employers to drop their current plans, including some that could not be replaced for $5,000. McCain appears to acknowledge that his health care plan would result in higher taxes for some, though he says they would likely be among the wealthiest Americans.

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