10-23-2006
Health care tops agenda

By Matthew Tetrault
news@seacoastonline.com

YORK, Maine — Concerns about health care were the primary focus at a forum for Maine’s 1st District Congressional candidates on Sunday.

Incumbent Democratic Rep. Tom Allen, Republican challenger Darlene Curley and independent candidate Dexter Kamilewicz found little to agree upon during the hourlong discussion at York Public Library. In contrast to their joking demeanor and calm arguments, the three offered a wide variety of solutions to the health-care problem.

When asked by the audience why the United States is the only industrialized nation without universal health care, Kamilewicz responded by calling for an immediate discussion to formulate a universal health-care plan. Kamilewicz also believes the ongoing war in Iraq is draining resources that would be better spent on health care.

“If we can spend a half a trillion dollars to go and destroy another country and kill all those people, we can sure as the devil pay for health care in this country,” he said.

Allen agrees that the cost of health care is a growing problem, but believes there is not enough support to pass a universal health-care plan. In the short term, he plans to work on better coverage for children and allowing seniors to buy into Medicare.

Curley believes the solution lies in the ability to choose. If elected, she would fight to give Maine residents the ability to shop in other states for health insurance. She is also calling for a “Volkswagen-like” model of health insurance that would be more affordable to the consumer.

“The difference is that I don’t think it should be government run,” she said.

Audience members’ second concern was the war in Iraq. They questioned candidates on how they felt about the war and what policy they would implement if elected.

Kamilewicz believes there should be an immediate withdrawal of all U.S. forces from the country. He said the United States is prolonging death and destruction as well as impeding the rebuilding efforts of Iraqi officials.

Allen argued for a set of deadlines for troop withdrawal. Part of his plan would include an ultimatum to the Iraqi government: If order is not restored and certain conditions are not met, then the United States would pull out of the country.

Curley agrees with Allen about setting a time line for withdrawal, but believes U.S. forces still need additional time to fully establish stability in the region.

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