Copyright 1999 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.
Chicago
Sun-Times
November 09, 1999, TUESDAY, Late
Sports Final Edition
SECTION: NEWS; CAMPAIGN
2000; Pg. 15
LENGTH: 389 words
HEADLINE: Bradley hits Gore health plan
SOURCE: ROBERT A. DAVIS
BYLINE: BY JIM RITTER
BODY:
Bill Bradley, who has made health care coverage for most Americans a
cornerstone of his presidential campaign, on Monday attacked Vice President Al
Gore's health plan as timid.
"Maybe something happens when you listen to
Washington voices, instead of the people's," Bradley said in a speech to the
American Public Health Association meeting at McCormick Place.
"The
Washington view of things says, 'Don't propose anything bold in a campaign,
because your opponent will surely pick it apart.' "
Bradley's plan would
require parents to enroll children in health plans, either at work or in
federally approved private plans. The government would pay all costs for
families with incomes under $ 32,000. Uninsured adults could join insurance
plans for federal employees; lower income adults would be subsidized.
Gore's plan would cover all children by 2005 and provide tax credits to
individuals and small businesses to help buy coverage.
Bradley said his
plan would cost $ 50 billion to $ 65 billion per year. Gore said it would cost
much more. Gore said Bradley "offers a flawed trillion-dollar plan that will
cost the American people even more in the long run."
During Bradley's
speech, many audience members held signs saying "single payer." The public
health association supports a system in which one payer, the government, would
insure all Americans. Bradley's plan falls short of that goal but is better than
any other presidential candidate's plan, said Dr. Mohammad Akhter, the
association's executive director.
Meanwhile, in Washington, Gore
proposed several new measures to get cheaper generic versions of medications on
the market more quickly.
Gore said he wants to see legislation that
would make it harder for drug companies to get
extensions on drug patents; those extensions
delay the ability of other companies to market generic versions of the
drugs.
He said Congress should enact legislation that
would require independent analysis of the effects extensions
would have on Medicaid and veterans programs costs as well as the implications
for consumers.
"Today, when unfair patent extensions
are granted, consumers pay the difference in higher drug
prices," Gore said. "Before gaining such exceptions, Congress should assess the
real costs for the American taxpayer."
Contributing: Associated Press
GRAPHIC: Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Bradley
(left) shakes hands with Pat Quinn during a campaign stop Monday in Chicago.
LOAD-DATE: November 11, 1999 
