FOX 4 Kansas City: Bob Dole Tackles Bipartisan Health Reform Plan
Published By: FOX 4 Kansas City
August 4, 2008
Bob Dole, the former Senator from Kansas and GOP Presidential nominee, is tackling health care reform. He's doing it with three other former Senate leaders.
Senator Dole came to Lawrence to hear what others say about reviving a health care system on life support. Senator Dole said at the Dole Institute that he thinks in this election year, health care is the hidden issue.
Senator Dole is working with three other former Senator majority leaders: Mitchell, Baker, and Daschle. There are two Republicans and two Democrats to come up with a bipartisan plan.
"Different parties but you know, trust each other, know each other," Senator Dole said.
Senator Dole said reform shouldn't be just about the government spending more on health care. It should be about personal responsibility, too. He said of the 47 million Americans without health insurance.
"About 10 million are young people from 24-34 who don't want to buy insurance. Don't want to spend money. We're not gonna get sick, but it's gonna happen," Senator Dole said.
He also compares health care benefits to gasoline -- saying neither is unlimited.
"You're gonna say there's gonna be limits on some of the benefits. The price of gas has dropped 30-40 cents because people are driving that difference. Once there are incentives, or maybe a disincentive," Senator Dole said.
Senator Dole said the goal is also to eliminate disparities in health care costs.
"Why does it cost $8,000 for an operation in Boston and cost $3,000 in Denver," he said.
To avoid politics, the former Senators won't release their plan until after the November election, but they hope it'll be before the end of the year.
Dole said he's confident that the new President will listen to the proposal from the former senators.
Meryl Lin McKean, FOX 4 News
