GOP contenders in 8th District oppose health care bill
When it comes to health care reform, the six Republicans running for Congress in the 8th District all toe the GOP line and oppose the controversial plan being debated in Washington, D.C.
They explained their stances in questionnaires for the Daily Herald.
The candidates are: Dirk Beveridge of Barrington, John Dawson of Barrington, Chris Geissler of Barrington, Greg Jacobs of Mundelein, Maria Rodriguez of Long Grove and Joe Walsh of Winnetka.
Beveridge called the Democrat-driven health care proposal "a trillion-dollar disaster we cannot afford." It will eliminate patient choice and degrade the quality of care, he said.
Beveridge proposed reforming health care by: separating insurance from employment to encourage individual policy ownership; emphasizing health savings accounts that encourage people to put aside pretax income for health-related costs; let insurance companies sell across state lines; create purchasing pools for small businesses and associations; and create reasonable caps on malpractice lawsuits.
Dawson said affordable health care should be made available to all U.S. citizens but insisted "health care is not a right." The free-market system should be allowed to dictate insurance coverage, he said.
He said health insurance pricing should be based on risk factors, just as auto insurance prices are set. He also said people should be able to cross state lines to buy insurance.
Geissler believes insurance providers shouldn't be allowed to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions. He supports the creation of insurance plans that allow "a la carte coverage" and would let consumers choose how they want to be insured.
Jacobs said creating a proper health care system is his top campaign concern. But, like the other Republicans in the race, he opposed the plan being debated in Congress.
He does not support a public option for insurance and said Americans should be able to go to other states for insurance. Tort reform should be part of any health care reform proposal, he said.
Rodriguez backed the health care proposal being floated by Republicans in the U.S. House, which she said would reduce health care costs and encourage insurance pools for small businesses.
Like the other candidates, Rodriguez opposes the use of public funding for abortion, an issue at the heart of the health care fight in Washington.
Walsh opposes universal health care or any government-sponsored health care system.
Like his fellow candidates, he said companies should be allowed to cross state lines to sell policies, and he said tort reform would cut insurance costs.
"An additional benefit will be the reduction in cost achieved by the elimination of unnecessary testing associated with defensive medicine," Walsh said.
The 8th District includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties. The House seat carries a two-year term.
Bean, of Barrington, will be the lone Democrat on the primary ballot. Green Party candidate Bill Scheurer of Lindenhurst is running, too.