Democrat Presidential candidate Bill Bradley promised Iowans today that hewould make long-term health care a priority if elected. Bradley made thepledge today during a roundtable discussion in Des Moines sponsored by theAmerican Association for Retired Persons. Bradley warned that helping thosein poverty is his top health care priority.Bradley says expanding medicare to include some form of long-term careinsurance and prescription drug benefit would be expensive. He says part ofthe cost could be paid using some of the projected budget surplus. Bradleysays medicaid recipients would also have to shoulder some of the cost.Bradley says expanding medicare to cover long-term health care andprescription drugs would mean a smaller tax cut. But, Bradley says it’s abetter way to go.The A-A-R-P has asked all candidates to sign the pledge. Bradley is the thirdpresidential candidate to sign. Republican Gary Bauer and Vice President AlGore, a democrat, have also agreed to the long-term care pledge.On another topic, Bradley says he favors a campaign finance bill passed inthe U-S House. The bill now goes to the Senate.Bradley says even if this bill passes, it’s only the first step towardcampaign reform.
