Democratic congressional candidate Christie Vilsack says “it wouldn’t make much sense” to offer specific health care reform proposals until the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether President Obama’s health care reform law is constitutional.
“I think it makes sense to wait for a few weeks,” Vilsack said during an interview this morning, “until we know what the Supreme Court’s going to do.”
Vilsack’s November opponent is Republican Congressman Steve King, an opponent of the president’s health care reform law who has repeatedly called for repeal of “ObamaCare.” During taping of the Iowa Public Television program “Iowa Press,” Vilsack was asked if she supports the mandate in that law. It requires Americans to buy health insurance.
“I’m not for it or against it,” she said. “I mean, I think we need to figure out a way to get everybody access to health care, affordable health care and so we won’t know what happens with the Supreme Court. When they do decide what they’re going to do, then we’ll move on with whatever they’ve decided.”
Vilsack is expressing support for parts of the health care reform law that allow children to stay on their parent’s insurance policy ’til they’re 26 and that forbid insurance companies from denying coverage to people with “pre-existing” conditions. She also said ensuring “access” to health care is important.
“It might be the mandate. It might not be the mandate,” Vilsack said. “I think right now, for instance, the governor of Oregon is looking at some cooperative methods. He’s looking at ways to save $1 trillion, by creating cooperatives. I think right here in Iowa, I’ve talked to Dr. Carlisle and David Lyons are working on a cooperative model for health insurance. I think there’s a lot of innovation coming right now and it’s moving. A lot of things are happening regardless of what happens with the Supreme Court.”
David Lyons is a former State Insurance Commissioner, now head of the Iowa Institute.