KY’s U-S Senate candidates weigh in on health care vote

By: Neil Middleton - Email

Posted: Tue 3:13 PM, Mar 23, 2010

The leading Republican and Democratic candidates in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate race are letting voters know their position on Sunday’s health care vote … well, sort of.

KY’s U-S Senate candidates weigh in on health care vote

The leading Republican and Democratic candidates in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate race are letting voters know their position on Sunday’s health care vote … well, sort of.

Democrat Daniel Mongiardo

Statement of Daniel Mongiardo on Healthcare Reform Bill

(Note: Attorney General and Democratic candidate Jack Conway issued a news release today saying Mongiardo “opposed” the bill passed last night. This is not true. Like Conway, Mongiardo opposed the Senate version of the bill.)

Healthcare reform is a passion of mine. We have to get it done and get it done right.

I would support the House version of the bill, if and only if, I had assurances from the President that other critical reforms would be taken to rescue a healthcare system in danger of collapse, reforms that would do more to squeeze out the waste and inefficiencies of healthcare, improve patient care, and lower costs for everyone.

Without those assurances, I would vote no because in and and of itself this bill will not fundamentally address our healthcare challenges---and could undermine the laudable goals of reform.

The Republicans failure to work with Democrats and seek common ground was unacceptable. And the special interest horse trading in the Senate bill was destructive to the cause of reform. The last thing our health system needs is partisanship. In the Senate, I will look for real solutions to move reforms forward.

If Jack Conway believes this is the magic solution to healthcare, it’s proof that we need to send a doctor to the Senate—not just another politician.

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Democrat Jack Conway

CONWAY SUPPORTS PASSAGE OF HEALTH CARE REFORM; MONGIARDO OPPOSES 

Legislation to save $200 billion tax dollars is Conway's first priority if elected to the Senate

"This legislation is a rare opportunity to stop insurance company abuses, lower costs for businesses and individuals, and provide affordable coverage for up to 654,000 Kentuckians who are uninsured. In a few days, the Senate will get a chance to vote on this bill. If I had the honor of being Kentucky's Senator, I would vote for it because, while far from perfect, it expands coverage for uninsured Americans, stops insurance companies from discriminating against individuals with pre-existing conditions and helps small businesses. It has taken decades to get this close and I would vote to get this bill over the finish line."

"I am pleased this legislation does not contain the Nebraska compromise, which I have repeatedly said was distasteful and everything that is wrong with Washington. However, it does not give Medicare bulk purchasing power for prescription drugs, which could save taxpayers $200 billion dollars. Unfortunately, Washington struck a deal with the big pharmaceutical companies that took this issue off the table. If I am elected Senator, the first piece of legislation I introduce will repeal this special interest giveaway. To truly reform the health care system, we need to cut health care costs while maintaining benefits and this $200 billion dollars in savings needs to be part of the solution.

"I think it's important that Kentucky voters know where their candidates for the United States Senate stand on this issue. I support this bill while my opponent has said he would 'throw it all out and start over.' According to CNHI, my opponent's position is 'basically the same line used by Sen. Mitch McConnell, Kentucky's senior senator and Republican Leader.' There is a clear choice in this race. I support health care coverage for all Kentuckians while my opponent, Daniel Mongiardo agrees with Mitch McConnell and Republicans who want to kill health care reform legislation.

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Republican Trey Grayson

Dear Friends,

I am as disappointed as you are about the Obama/Reid/Pelosi health care bill that passed the House of Representatives last night and that will now become law.

I have signed a pledge to repeal this legislation, and I hope you will support me by signing my petition to build support for repealing it.

The Democrat leadership used budget gimmicks, procedural short cuts, backroom deals and strong-arm tactics to pass the Obama/Reid/Pelosi health care bill. We need bipartisan reform to bring down costs, which will increase access. The only thing bipartisan about the bill that Congress passed was the opposition to it, and with good reason.

There is only one way to repeal this bill: elect committed conservatives to the House and Senate this fall. With your help we can win this Senate race in May and November and I will work to repeal this bill in Congress.

I’m being attacked on the airwaves every day with tens of thousands of dollars in negative ads by my opponent. We have TV and radio ads on the air to combat these false attacks, but we need your help. Your contribution of $500, $250, $100 or even $50 today will help us keep our ads on the air and will help us win this campaign for Kentucky conservatives.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you soon on the campaign trail.

Thank you,

Trey Grayson

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Republican Rand Paul

"The Washington D.C. Establishment won't be happy until they have all our money, our jobs, and our freedoms. Stopping them is my reason for running for the U.S. Senate. They think they don't have to listen to us any more, but we are about to show them that they should have listened."

Rand Paul

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How will the candidates position on health care impact your vote? Let me know your thoughts.

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