The race in Iowa’s first congressional district is between a political newcomer who’s calling for budget cuts and a two-term incumbent who says he’s proud of what Washington has provided for people in need. Both candidates spoke this week at the Iowa State Fair.
Republican Ben Lange, a 31-year-old lawyer from Independence, asked fair-goers to take a chance on a newcomer like him. “Government’s not the answer. Government’s never been the answer,” Lange said. “Government can’t be the provider. Government can’t be the employer. Government can’t be the insurer.”
According to Lange, the federal government has too much control over health care as a result of the law President Obama signed this spring.
During his speech at the fair, Democratic Congressman Bruce Braley of Waterloo told the story of one Iowa family who benefitted from the health care reform law. Tucker Wright of Malcom was diagnosed with liver cancer when he was 18 months old and his parents fear his medical bills will exceed the upper limit on their insurance policy.
“As of September 30, you can’t discriminate against kids based on pre-existing conditions anymore,” Braley said. “And as of September 23, you can’t put lifetime caps on insurance benefits for people like Tucker Wright.”
Braley also mentioned two injured veterans who will benefit from the health care reform plan.