State rep.'s flier draws heat from his opponent
A flier attacking the health-care policies of the Republican challenger for 44th District state representative came up at Thursday's candidates' debate in Schaumburg.
"You are being disingenuous in your campaign when you are lying about... my positions saying that I won't support funding for autism screening," Margaret "Peggy" Brothman told Democratic state Rep. Fred Crespo.
Crespo charges Brothman's Republican Party would rather appease the health insurance lobby instead of ensuring proper health care for its constituents.
However, the flier struck a particular nerve with Brothman, as it included a reference to autism screenings. Brothman has an 18-year-old son, Billy, who suffers from the disorder.
Crespo said the flier's focus was more on the Republican's ties to insurance companies. He said he's battled them over the course of his first term in Springfield. He pointed to two bills that he said insurance companies opposed - one to offer defensive driving classes to senior citizens and another to help treat eating disorders.
"They say we have a health-care crisis, I see it more as an insurance crisis," Crespo said on Wednesday, before the debate.
Brothman denied connections to insurance companies. Though Republican Party groups have donated almost $3,000 to her campaign, no insurance-related donors have contributed, according to the State Board of Elections' Web site.
"It's never been my agenda to go out and cut everyone's health insurance," Brothman said Wednesday. "I've never said anything like that."
Crespo said Republican House Leader Tom Cross is one of many GOP members who have voted against bills that would improve the health-care system, including securing funding for autism programs. He said Brothman would will follow Cross' lead, if elected.
Brothman said she knows health care is a hot topic and that reforming the Medicare system is a priority, pointing to how far behind payments have fallen.
Balancing the state's budget would help, because in 20 years the majority of the budget will go toward paying pensions and Medicare, she said.
The 44th District includes parts of Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Streamwood, Hanover Park, Bartlett and Elgin.