Ohioans Want to Know: Where's the Beef on Bush Health Care Plan?
In the face of increasing dissatisfaction with his failed leadership, President Bush today will visit the Wendy's International headquarters in Dublin, Ohio to pitch his health care proposals. President Bush's visit comes just days after an Associated Press poll showing that 58 percent of Americans disapprove of his handling of domestic issues like health care, while only 39 percent approve of his handling of those issues. [AP, 2/10/06]
President Bush and the Republican Congress are offering nothing to help the 1.2 million Ohioans who lack health insurance -- an increase of 34,000 in Ohio since 2000 -- or to reduce the cost of health insurance, which has increased nationwide by $1,070 -- 72 percent -- on his watch. [CPS, 10/05; KFF 2005] Instead, President Bush is pitching his proposal to promote health savings accounts, hardly a cure for Ohio's health care woes. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the President's proposal would weaken the existing health insurance system, do nothing to improve access to health care, and increase the budget deficit by $156 billion over the next ten years. [CBPP, 2/4/06]
"With President Bush talking about health care in Ohio today, working families in the Buckeye State want to know: Where's the beef?" said Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera. "Ohio's working families are struggling because President Bush and Republicans in Washington have failed to address America's health care crisis.
"While more Ohioans have been forced to go without health insurance and those with coverage are paying skyrocketing premiums, President Bush and the Republican Congress have allowed their special interest friends to draft their health care policies. The President's health savings accounts will benefit his special interest friends at the expense of the American people.
"Together, America can do better. President Bush and the Republicans in Washington should join Democrats in fighting for access to affordable health care for all Americans, not just those who can afford it."
