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Bill Richardson on Health Care
This candidate has withdrawn from the election
Q: Does your health care plan cover undocumented workers? RICHARDSON: Yes, it would. It should cover everybody. In this country, no matter who you are, whether you're a ditch-digger, you're a teacher, you're a CEO, you're a waiter, you're a maid, every American deserves the right to the best possible quality health care. That would be part of my plan.
2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC Jul 23, 2007
Richardson has said that if he were elected president and more Democrats were in Congress, he would enact universal health care coverage within the first year of his administration.
Q: You are perhaps the most strident on the position against raising taxes to pay for health care. RICHARDSON: As Democrats, I just hope that we always don't think of new taxes to pay for programs. This is what I would do. I would have the following principles In my new health care plan, no new bureaucracy. Every American shares, along with businesses, the state and the federal government.
South Carolina 2007 Democratic primary debate, on MSNBC Apr 26, 2007
Q: Gov. Vilsack said we don't have to increase taxes to pay for universal health care. Sen. Edwards say don't believe anyone who says that. Who's right? RICHARDSON: I would not increase taxes. The problem is the excessive costs of health care and the coverage. I would focus on preventive health care: like child obesity programs. But the big problem is the huge administrative costs of health care. 31% of the costs are administrative. A lot of it is waste. There are 50 Medicaid programs. They don't give the states the flexibility to run them. What I like is what some states have done, and that is a Massachusetts-style plan with good benefits that basically says we facilitate it for employers and employees to get mandatory coverage.
2007 AFSCME Democratic primary debate in Carson City Nevada Feb 21, 2007
"As the presidential election approaches, we'll hear plans for creating huge government bureaucracies or forcing a 'one size fits all' approach upon families," he wrote. "Our well-being is too important to leave to massive untested programs. My plan is a common-sense approach that builds upon existing systems, offers well-established coverage programs, and provides Americans with choices of affordable care." Asked about the reference to "huge bureaucracies" in other plans, Richardson spokeswoman Katie Roberts pointed to the "National Health Insurance Exchange" that Obama proposes, which would serve as a watchdog and create rules and standards for both private insurance plans and a new public one that families could buy into. She also pointed to the new public health insurance program that Edwards would create for people who lacked private coverage and didn't qualify for Medicaid. Richardson, by contrast, would let families buy into the existing insurance program used by members of Congress.
We insured every child under five in New Mexico and increased immunizations. We got rid of junk food in schools. We brought mandatory phys ed in.
2007 Dem. debate at Saint Anselm College Jun 3, 2007
Our main responsibility should be to insure all children under five. We've done that in New Mexico and we should do that nationally.
What about costs? I would have a cooperative plan between the employer, businesses, the state and the federal government. I would propose a refundable tax credit for those Americans that need coverage based on income.
SEIU Democratic Health Care Forum in Las Vegas Mar 24, 2007
No. 1, my plan is mandatory. You do have everybody sharing -- the employer, the employee, you have the state and the federal government.
All employers will be required to help contribute to a healthy workforce.