Health-care reform splits candidates

GOP candidates Arlington Heights resident Laura Bartell and Elk Grove Village Trustee Christine Prochno differ in how they'd approach health-care reform, especially regarding limiting medical malpractice rewards and new health care programs.

Both candidates for the 66th House District wouldn't be fans of new health-care programs.

But in this regard, Bartell is most concerned about the legislature promoting programs that could create a greater tax burden on residents, which is what she's campaigning to avoid.

Prochno said it's the principal of not funding new programs that the state can't afford now.

"Funding needs to be made available and the budget needs to be balanced before looking at any new program, " Prochno said.

Tort reform is another area that the candidates differ.

While both support it in general, Prochno wants to set the limit of medical malpractice rewards between $750,000 to $1 million, while Bartell has set no exact range but said that she'd support a "reasonable" reward.

Bartell said she'd like to look most closely at class-action suits over medical products and procedures.

"Medication and product class-action suits -- there's a lot of different areas to look at," Bartell said.

Both are vying for the GOP nomination to run for the seat of longtime Republican state Rep. Carolyn Krause of Mount Prospect, who is not seeking another term.

The primary election is Feb. 5.

The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Mark Walker of Arlington Heights, who has no primary opponent, in the November general election.