Dold voices support for healthcare reform, says repeal isn't the answser
In something of a break from many of his Republican colleagues, former U.S. Rep. Robert Dold on Thursday said he'd rather fix elements of the Affordable Care Act than scrap the controversial health care reform law entirely.
In a conversation at the Daily Herald's headquarters, Dold emphasized there are elements of the law he likes, including the provision that allows children to stay on their parents' insurance plans until they're age 26 and the one that ensures pre-existing conditions won't prevent people from obtaining insurance.
"Those are things I think are absolutely important," he said.
Dold of Kenilworth is challenging Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Deerfield for the 10th District seat. It's a rematch of the 2012 election, which saw Schneider upset Dold by a narrow margin.
Dold spoke about health care, strife in the Middle East and other issues in the hourlong session with representatives of the editorial board.
Schneider will have a similar meeting Oct. 3.
The Affordable Care Act was one of the first topics that came up for Dold, who served in the House from 2010 to 2012.
"What we really ought to be saying is, 'What do we want our health care to look like?'" Dold said. "I think that we want patient-centered care."
When asked if he sees it as a matter of fixing the law rather than repealing it, Dold said, "I do."
In response, Schneider campaign spokeswoman Staci McCabe said Dold repeatedly voted to strike the law or elements of it when he was in office.
"When he had his chance, Dold proved he was a reliable vote to repeal and dismantle the Affordable Care Act," McCabe said in an email.
Dold predicted that response and called it disingenuous.
"My opponent will come in here and say 'Bob Dold has tried to replace, defund, do whatever however many times,'" Dold said. "But in actuality, a lot of those (votes) were trying to fix some of the law."
Schneider has suggested the Affordable Care Act needs adjusting, too.
In a questionnaire for the Daily Herald, Schneider said he helped introduce legislation to end a tax on medical devices to promote medical innovation.
Schneider also said he voted to give businesses and people additional time to select health plans.
"Our health care system is a long-term challenger requiring long-term solutions," Schneider wrote in his questionnaire. "Instead of more partisan attempts to repeal (the law), we must focus on working to improve what's working, fix what's not, and rethink what's not fixable."
Earlier this week at a candidate forum in Lincolnshire, Schneider called the problem-filled rollout of the law "a disaster," but said people need to "keep what works and build upon it."
The 10th District includes parts of Cook and Lake counties. It stretches from Lake Michigan into the North and Northwest suburbs.