Question #9:
The question was on health care and directed to Kerry.
Approximately...
"You have proposed a massive plan to extend healthcare coverage to children. You're also talking about the gov't picking up a big part of catstrophic bills. Said you can pay for it by rolling back President's tax cut on upper 2%."
Please try to keep the conversation focused on productive work--excited comments should be directed toward the debate open thread. This is a place to do serious work.
Main Rapid Response Thread
Kerry 2 Minute Answer
Important Points/Quotes:
+ Not a government plan, you choose your doctor, choose your plan. You don't have to enroll.
+ People 55-64 can buy in to Medicare early
+ Small businesses get a 50% tax cut on health insurance costs.
+ Broader competition and early diagnosis will help lower costs.
Bush 90 Second Response
Important Points/Quotes:
+ Lewin Report said Senator's plan cost over $2 trillion. 20 million people added to government "controlled" health care.
+ Claims Kerry's plan would provide incentive for small businesses to not provide insurance.
+ "I think Government-run health will lead to poor quality health, to rationing..."
Kerry 30 Second Followup
Important Points/Quotes:
+ Bush hasn't fully funded VA and patients are complaining.
+ "I am not proposing a government-run program."
Bush 30 Second Followup Response
Important Points/Quotes:
+ Increased VA funding, aligning facilities where veterans live.
Fact Check Central
Fact Check Requests:
1)What about the VA funding? Who is right? Kerry claims funding isn't "fully funded" and Bush claims they've increased funding. Both could be true. Is there increased funding but not in line with inflation or something like that?
2)Is the Lewin Report really non-partisan?
Fact Check Responses:
1) Based on this factcheck.org article found by R343L it looks like there is truth in what both said. Kerry said that the VA hospitals were not fully funded. The factcheck article says that the Secretary for VA wanted more funding. Bush said that he had increased funding in a substantial way and this is also true.
2)Sula seems to have already debunked the unbiased nature of The Lewin Report. Once again, President Bush misleads us...
Official Transcript of question/response: