State of Colorado Archives: on Health Care
Jared Polis: Telehealth is literally a lifesaver for many in rural areas
This pandemic has also forced us to be creative as we've reimagined our health care system. Think, for example, of telehealth--including behavioral telehealth--which isn't just a useful innovation in a time of social distancing. It's a convenient tool for folks who want to receive care from the comfort of their own homes, and it's literally a lifesaver for many Coloradans in rural areas who may live far away from doctors and clinics and hospitals. Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Colorado legislature Feb 17, 2021
Greg Lopez: I believe in free-market health care
I believe in school choice, less regulation, protecting the 2nd Amendment, free-market health care, constitutionalist judges, less spending and smaller government through Tax Payers Bill of Rights--TABOR, enforcing our laws and protecting our boarders, "legal" immigration not "illegal immigration." Source: 2022 Colorado governor race website LopezForGovernor2022.com Feb 15, 2021
Greg Lopez: No face mask; responds "Do you wear a diaper?"
Lopez said he does not wear a face mask in Denver or anywhere else and if someone says something to him about it, he says, "Do you wear a diaper?" Source: Akron News-Reporter on 2022 Colorado gubernatorial race Feb 10, 2021
Cory Gardner: COVID: government containing, stabilizing supply-chain
Q: COVID-19: Support administration's response to coronavirus pandemic?
Corey Gardner: Yes. "HHS, through a number of its agencies, is actively leading critical prevention, containment, and supply-chain stability."
John Hickenlooper: No. "Only way to regain our confidence and restart our economy is having the capacity to either test or vaccinate every American." Source: CampusElect on 2020 Colorado Senate race Oct 10, 2020
John Hickenlooper: COVID: Need capacity test or vaccinate every American
John Hickenlooper: No. "Only way to regain our confidence and restart our economy is having the capacity to either test or vaccinate every American."
Corey Gardner: Yes. "HHS, through a number of its agencies, is actively leading critical prevention, containment, and supply-chain stability." Source: CampusElect on 2020 Colorado Senate race Oct 10, 2020
Cory Gardner: Supported efforts to repeal Affordable Care Act
Hickenlooper proceeded to attack Gardner for the senator's efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, noting Gardner ran for Congress in 2010 vowing to roll back the law and supported Trump's effort to end it in 2017. Gardner has tried to defend his votes by pointing to a 117-page bill he wrote that says it protects pre-existing conditions, but legal experts call it a political stunt. Source: CBS-Denver on 2020 Colorado Senate debate Oct 2, 2020
John Hickenlooper: ACA led to successful state marketplace & Medicaid expansion
Hickenlooper touted the success of Colorado's insurance marketplace, created by Obamacare, and adding 400,000 people to Medicaid. He said Republicans are trying to take away protections for people. He wants a sliding scale public option and extend coverage to all Americans by demanding bulk discounts on drugs for Medicare, which the government doesn't get now. "We roll it out and everyone in this country has coverage, just like they do in every other industrialized country," Hickenlooper said. Source: ColoradoPolitics.com on 2020 Colorado Senate debate Oct 2, 2020
John Hickenlooper: COVID: Trump ignored the risk, that was negligent
In his opening statement, Hickenlooper took aim at Trump. Hickenlooper offered prayers for the president, who was hospitalized with COVID-19 hours before the debate. But he criticized Trump's response to the pandemic. "He ignored the risk. That was negligent," Hickenlooper said. "We're in a crisis and the stakes couldn't be higher. Source: KUNC-BBC radio on 2020 Colorado Senate debate Oct 2, 2020
John Hickenlooper: We need to get to universal coverage, won't break the bank
The candidates also offered differing views on health care, with Hickenlooper defending the Affordable Care Act. Gardner said Hickenlooper wants "government-run health care." "You know what's the cruelest lie of all, it's that Cory Gardner says he has a plan to protect people with pre-existing conditions," Hickenlooper said. "We need to get to universal coverage. It's not going to cost a fortune. It's not going to break the bank." Source: KUNC-BBC radio on 2020 Colorado Senate debate Oct 2, 2020
Cory Gardner: I want to fight against Medicare for All
Q: Your Medicare policy?
A: We need to continue health care policy to drive down the cost of health care and increase the quality. I am committed to making sure that Medicare remains a viable strong safety net. We have to make sure that this important safety net program continues. I've been fighting to make sure that taxes don't increase the cost of health care. I want to fight against 'Medicare for All,' which means that 20-year-old will be competing against somebody who is 65 and over. Source: AARP Survey on 2020 Colorado Senate race Sep 30, 2020
Cory Gardner: Prevent Big Pharma from denying generic status to some drugs
Q: Your prescription drug policy?
A: I've worked hard on several pieces of legislation to increase competition to drive down costs. I've introduced a bill on price transparency that would help consumers be able to shop better for more affordable prescription drugs and also legislation that would prevent the Big Pharma companies from denying generic status to certain drugs. When a drug goes on generic, we can have more affordability. And more competition means more general affordability as well. Source: AARP Survey on 2020 Colorado Senate race Sep 30, 2020
John Hickenlooper: Allow Medicare to negotiate with drug companies
A: Everyone deserves access to high quality health care. The program covers nearly all older Americans who earned this coverage through a lifetime of hard work. To help lower costs, I support allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug companies to get a better deal. It's astounding that they're currently not allowed to do so, and I'd work to change that on day one in the Senate. Source: AARP Survey on 2020 Colorado Senate race Sep 30, 2020
John Hickenlooper: Investigate anticompetitive practices by drug companies
A: I will fight to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. Medicare should be able to negotiate prices directly with drug companies. Congress should explore the possibility of importing safe medicine from Canada. We can pass legislation requiring more transparency in drug pricing and curtailing significant increases in the price of both generic and specialty drugs. Congress should investigate potential anticompetitive practices in the pharmaceutical industry. Source: AARP Survey on 2020 Colorado Senate race Sep 30, 2020
John Hickenlooper: I will always stand up for Medicaid
Q: Your Medicaid policy?
A: I support strengthening programs that help seniors stay in their homes. By approving transportation options and controlling housing and health care costs, we can help more people live life on their own terms. We need to strengthen protections for seniors in long-term health care facilities as well. Not only that, but many seniors depend on Medicaid for long-term care. I will always stand up for Medicaid and every person's right to access quality and affordable care. Source: AARP Survey on 2020 Colorado Senate race Sep 30, 2020
Greg Lopez: Would take a hands-off approach to health care
He would take a hands-off approach to health care. Less government and more competition would lower prices faster than regulations that drove them up. Ultimately, society has to lower health risks to reduce costs on health care, not government squeezing the market, Lopez said. "Any time the government has gotten its hands on a program, I'm yet to see it do what they said it was going to do," he said. Source: ColoradoPolitics.com blog on 2022 Colorado governor race Mar 23, 2020
Jared Polis: Proposes drug price transparency & public option
At the end of the day there is one issue that continues to reign over all when it comes to affordability: the high cost of health care. We know that health care costs won't magically go down on their own. We need to keep working at it. Which is why this year I'm supporting legislation to require prescription drug price transparency, and a proposal to provide Coloradans a public option to increase freedom and choice in the health care marketplace. Source: 2020 Colorado State of the State address Jan 9, 2020
Alice Madden: Grow toward a public option
Madden would like to see the country "grow toward a public option," but with choices intact: "Some people may want to keep their private insurance, but I think the government can handle that if it's rolled out in a good way. If an insurance company is a for-profit corporation, there's money not being spent in the best interest of the people and revenue that's not being invested in people. It makes sense to have a nonprofit or government-run entity to get the most bang out of your buck." Source: Westword.com on 2020 Colorado Senate race Oct 11, 2019
Angela Williams: Make sure everyone has access to affordable health care
As for health care, Williams says she's "still evaluating all of the different plans that are out there: single payer, the ACA, Medicare for all. But we need to make sure everyone has access to affordable health care and that they're all covered. Health care is a human right." Source: Westword.com on Colorado legislature voting record Aug 15, 2019
John Walsh: Access for all to high-quality, affordable health care
No other issue is more important to John than working to ensure that all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable health care.
John's mother was an emergency room nurse. After long days at work, she brought home stories of people and families who had to use the E.R. for their primary care. When people don't have affordable, high-quality health insurance, they delay seeking medical care, their costs go up, their quality of care goes down, and people suffer and even die unnecessarily. Source: 2020 Senate campaign website JohnWalshForColorado.com May 19, 2019
Dan Baer: Address insurance non-coverage, but no single-payer system
A big agenda item for Baer is universal health care. He prefers immediate steps to help people without coverage now as opposed to making an all-or-nothing bid for a single-payer system in part because of what happened in his own family. "My dad got cancer for the first time when I was in high school, then went into remission for eight years. But he was diagnosed again when I was in graduate school. We had health insurance, but the hospital, in the summer of 2002, told him that he had used up the hospital days that were on the policy and had to go home even though he wasn't really in a condition to do that. So I came home from school to help my mom and help with a seven-year-old brother who required care, too. And my dad died at our house on Dexter Street." Source: Westword.com on 2020 Colorado Senate race Apr 30, 2019
Jared Polis: Improve ObamaCare; work toward universal single-payer system
Q: Support or Repeal ACA, aka ObamaCare? Accept ACA's Medicaid expansion to subsidize low-income participants?
Jared Polis (D): Keep ACA and improve it. Work toward universal single-payer system. Believes Medicaid expansion in Colorado has been an enormous success.
Walker Stapleton (R): Repeal ACA & end Colorado's ObamaCare exchange. Shrinking Medicaid expansion would be among main changes he'd champion. Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Colorado Governor race Oct 9, 2018
Walker Stapleton: End Colorado's ObamaCare exchange; undo Medicaid expansion
Jared Polis: AdWatch: Supports Medicare for All
CLAIM: "And radical ideas like single-payer health care. That's why they call it RadiCalifornia. Jared Polis wants the same thing."
VERDICT: This is TRUE. Polis is supportive of single-payer health care. Calling it radical is opinion.
The ad refers to a bill introduced in January 2017, H.R. 676, "Medicare for All." It essentially creates a free health care system for all U.S. citizens. Polis signed on as a cosponsor of the bill in April 2017. No Republicans have put their name on this legislation. Source: 9News.com KUSA AdWatch on 2018 Colorado gubernatorial race Aug 13, 2018
Greg Lopez: VA is proof against government health-care system
Government has never been able to, and never will be able to, provide any type of true health-care system that will achieve what everyone wants to achieve, and we have a perfect example of that. The Veterans Administration is supposed to provide medical services and treatment at no cost to our veterans, and yet we see the challenges and the struggles the VA has. And they have full access to federal dollars to provide that service. It's just not working. Source: Westword.com blog on 2018 Colorado governor race May 23, 2018
Walker Stapleton: Medicaid block grants for community health care centers
Q: If the feds switched to Medicaid block grants, here's how he'd spend them:
A: "A managed Medicaid model means the following:�It means a proliferation of community health care centers. I've got a little clinic across the street. When my kids get sick�I take my kids across the street to an RN, and I pay $10 to $15 for a copay. The pharmacy is right there. If I took them to their pediatrician, I'd be paying 4 times as much and the insurance company would be billing me 6 or 7 times as much. Source: CPR.org on 2018 Colorado gubernatorial race May 21, 2018
John Hickenlooper: ObamaCare not perfect; it has helped but needs improvement
We need our friends in Washington to finally move past the tired fight over the Affordable Care Act. It's not perfect, and we need to strengthen it in lots of ways--but it has helped reduce our uninsured rate by half. 600,000 Coloradans--many from rural parts of the state--now have coverage who didn't before. It has helped save lives. When we're secure in our health care, we're more likely to take a chance and start a business. Source: 2018 State of the State address to the Colorado legislature Jan 11, 2018
Donna Lynne: Health care a right, not a privilege
The ACA has been a success in Colorado where we have cut in half the number of people who didn't have health coverage with more than half a million more Coloradans getting coverage they didn't have before. But more must be done. I've worked on legislation to expand access, increase transparency, and make health care more affordable. I think health care is a right, not a privilege, and I support universal coverage and will fight to make it a reality. . Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial website LynneForColorado.com Sep 15, 2017
Mike Johnston: Preserve Medicaid expansion
Will fight to preserve the expansion of Medicaid in Colorado which has helped cut the number of uninsured in our state by 50 percent. In 2014 Mike co-sponsored the creation the Colorado Commission on Affordable Health Care in order to improve access and quality of care. Mike put forth legislation that required that health insurers cover maternity care and contraception and prohibited health insurers from considering gender in setting rates Source: 2018 Colorado Governor website MikeJohnstonForColorado.com Sep 1, 2017
George Brauchler: Repeal Obamacare; local control of Medicaid
Coloradans deserve access to patient-centered healthcare and affordable premiums. ObamaCare must be repealed to make this happen. Since becoming the law of the land, ObamaCare has driven more and more Coloradans onto our Medicaid rolls. At the same time, it has stifled the state's ability to be innovative and has driven costs up at the expense of other state funding priorities, like education and transportation. We need greater flexibility that gets Washington out of the way and allows our state leaders to craft a Colorado-specific Medicaid plan that is best for Colorado's unique needs. Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website george2018.com Jul 12, 2017
Victor Mitchell: Insurance is not necessary for primary care
We can get Medicaid spending under control Medicaid has increased by more than 40% since the passage of the unaffordable care act. We're not doing anything to bend the cost of access to affordable care. We should come up with ideas and solutions that are different, that don't always involve insurance. Why do we even need insurance for primary care? I plan to repeal the exchange here in Colorado and replace it with a patient centered health care plan. Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website vic4gov.com Jul 2, 2017
Victor Mitchell: ObamaCare doesn't work for 50% of people today
We hear about the handful of people that are going to lose their insurance under the "Un-Affordable Care Act," but don't talk about the more than 50% of people today, that have insurance, that can't access it like Mark who works for me. He has diabetes. It costs him more than $15,000 a year today to access any service provider between what he has to pay for his co payments his deductibles and his premiums." Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website vic4gov.com Jul 2, 2017
Victor Mitchell: ObamaCare is not a solution; we need patient-centered care
Mitchell called the Medicaid expansion under Obamacare, which provided insurance to thousands of Coloradans, a boondoggle. He would favor block grants to start nurse-practitioner staffed clinics for primary care. "That begs the question of why do you even need insurance for primary care?" he said. "You should be able to go and get high-quality, patient-centered care without insurance, but we're not even thinking about these types of things." Source: ColoradoPolitics.com on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race Jun 13, 2017
Doug Robinson: Wants congress and Trump to repeal ObamaCare
Robinson said he voted for Donald Trump and applauded his cabinet appointments, even as he said he thinks the president "can do a better job." He expressed disappointment that the Republican-led Congress failed to pass a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Source: Denver Post on 2018 Colorado gubernatorial race Apr 25, 2017
George Brauchler: Medicaid block grants instead of ObamaCare expansion
Brauchler supports the Trump administration's call to change the federal Medicaid insurance program to a block grant -- setting limits on the annual expenditure. He said Colorado's decision to expand Medicaid coverage under the Obama administration's Affordable Care Act has committed the state to open-ended expense. "Those costs are ultimately unsustainable," he said. Source: Pueblo Chieftain on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race Apr 11, 2017
George Brauchler: Increase Medicaid co-pays to change behavior
A $2 copay that gets billed out as a $54 office visit is too little to impact behavior. People who have a runny nose are running off to the doctor, because the cost to them is nothing. Should we have the ability to go to them and say, "We want you to have the ability to have more skin in the game. We want to increase your copay as a means of not only helping us save dollars for those who truly need it, but also to change behavior, so you don't treat this in a way that's more gratuitously used." Source: Westword.com on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race Apr 7, 2017
George Brauchler: Charge co-pays to low-income residents on Medicaid
When it comes to finding money to invest in schools, Brauchler suggested rising health care costs are crowding out other priorities. He expressed interest to charging co-pays to low-income residents on Medicaid, as well as looking at reducing eligibility limits, which could leave some uninsured. Source: Denver Post on 2018 Colorado gubernatorial race Apr 5, 2017
Victor Mitchell: Promote patient-centered health care
His top issues include lowering the cost of college, promoting patient-centered health care and helping "people earn more money."
A former House GOP colleague called Mitchell "an independent thinker" who "didn't let party get in the way of getting some things done." Source: Denver Post on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race Feb 13, 2017
John Hickenlooper: Basic health care is a right, not a privilege
Our prosperity doesn't amount to a hill of beans if Coloradans can't afford health insurance. Since 2011 we've helped over 600,000 people get basic health insurance, and 94% of Coloradans now have coverage. We believe that basic health care is a right, not a privilege.
We all save money when people stay healthy or get treatment in doctor's offices instead of emergency rooms. We're emphasizing preventive care and giving people the tools to manage their diseases. Source: 2017 State of the State address to Colorado Legislature Jan 12, 2017
Darryl Glenn: ObamaCare is entitlement program that we cannot afford
Q: What would a health care system look like that would cover all citizens?
Darryl Glenn: ObamaCare is the latest example of a government entitlement program that neither the federal government nor individual citizens can afford and Colorado has been particularly hard hit. Premiums have skyrocketed, and the state-run co-op, Colorado HealthOP, has shut down due to insolvency. This is unsustainable and unaffordable. The solution is clear: we must repeal and replace ObamaCare in favor of a more affordable and practical approach for families. My plan would be to free people of the unconstitutional burden of being mandated to purchase increasingly costly insurance or face a financial punishment from the government. ObamaCare must be replaced with a more commonsense approach to healthcare that includes tort reform, permitting insurance to be purchased across state lines, and improving public health to decrease the demand for medical care. Source: LWV's Vote411.org on 2016 Colorado Senate Race Sep 19, 2016
Michael Bennet: Help seniors on Medicare; speed up drug approval
Michael Bennet: The first thing we need to address is the cost of care. I have a bipartisan bill that would help seniors on Medicare get to their appointments, get the medicine they need, focus on preventative care and coordinate their care between doctors and facilities. 15% of Medicare recipients account for $300 billion in Medicare spending. We could cut billions off that without affecting benefits. I've also cosponsored the Health Care Premium Reduction Act, which will help states fight big premium increases. We also need to do more to ensure people have access to lifesaving drugs they need. One of my proudest legislative accomplishments was working with Republicans to cut through red tape and speed up the approval process for potentially life-saving treatments and drugs. And we need to take serious steps towards transparency across the health care sector--drugs, hospitals, and insurance companies. Source: LWV's Vote411.org on 2016 Colorado Senate Race Sep 19, 2016
Darryl Glenn: ObamaCare has made health insurance much more expensive
Q: Do you believe the Affordable Care Act has made health insurance more accessible and affordable?
A: ObamaCare has made health insurance much more expensive for Coloradans across the state. And in many cases, people who now have insurance either can't afford their doctor visit, or can't find a doctor willing to accept their government-mandated insurance. In fact, Senator Bennet wanted to go even further than ObamaCare and institute a public option. But now that it's an election year, he comes back to Colorado and says he opposes Colorado's single payer healthcare initiative. Senator Bennet recently admitted that ObamaCare has been devastating for Coloradans--some of whom will see their premiums go up by almost 30% in the coming year alone.
Q: How would you approach reforming the Affordable Care Act?
A: We need to repeal ObamaCare and replace it with innovative, free-market solutions that focus on healthcare outcomes and the doctor-patient relationship. Source: Denver Post Voter Guide on 2016 Colorado Senate race Jun 7, 2016
Darryl Glenn: Repeal & Replace ObamaCare, and Restore out freedoms
One of the largest impediments to your American Dream is the Affordable Care Act. We must do two things with regard to this arduous law. First, we must Repeal it. Second, we must Replace it. By doing these two things we will Restore our freedoms and your American Dream.
First, we must Repeal the Affordable Care Act! We have to restore our individual freedoms because they are the bedrock of our nation. We cannot allow the government to mandate health care coverage on its free people. That is against our founding principles. This law has weighed down many and helped very few. Our citizens deserve the right and freedom to make their own choices about their health care from the type of policy to the level of care. These should be their choices, not the government's mandate.
My vision for this great nation is to restore our freedom and allow individuals the opportunity to determine their own future. Source: 2016 Colorado Senate campaign website ElectDarrylGlenn.com Apr 14, 2016
Darryl Glenn: Tort reform; catastrophic coverage; wellness programs
The marketplace can effectively and efficiently produce 21st century health care programs. If individuals elect to carry health insurance, and we actually want to improve the health care system. the recommended changes below should be adopted:
Guiding tort reform
Providing policy options by allowing individuals to purchase insurance across state lines
Universal coverage of catastrophic health events
Wellness programs that reward a proactive healthy lifestyle
Source: 2016 Colorado Senate campaign website ElectDarrylGlenn.com Apr 14, 2016
Peg Littleton: ObamaCare makes healthcare less accessible & more expensive
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. ObamaCare, is making health care less accessible and more expensive. Sen. Michael Bennet has ranked among the most enthusiastic supporters of this ill-conceived health care plan.
I will fight for genuinely affordable access to health care in Colorado & throughout the country. The key to affordable health care is supply. More doctors, nurses, hospitals and clinics will result in more access and lower prices. In the Senate, I will support policies that encourage investment in medical facilities, medical research and restore the desire among our best and brightest young people to pursue medical careers.
I will also fight for legislation that will allow the imposition of market forces in the medical marketplace. If consumers are allowed to shop for better medical bargains, prices will come down.
We must devise a system that protects the interests and choices of patients by putting them in control of health care and insurance markets. Source: 2016 Colorado Senate campaign website PegLittleton.com Feb 3, 2016
Cory Gardner: Ebola: immediate ban on all travel from West African
The candidates were asked how they would evaluate the federal response to the Ebola crisis. "We ought to listen to the health-care professionals," Sen. Udall said. "If they believe we ought to close our borders, we ought to restrict flights to and from West Africa. Let's listen to them. But senators and congressmen shouldn't be making those decisions. We should be supporting the resources that are necessary to meet the Ebola challenge."
Gardner called for an immediate traffic ban on all travel from West African countries where the Ebola virus is spreading. "If the president's not willing to put into a place a travel ban, then we should have 100% screening of the people who are coming from those affected areas," Gardner said.
The two tangled over cuts to the Center for Disease Control, with Udall saying the congressman cut funds that would have helped the agency and Gardner saying he opposed tax dollars going to programs such as Jazzercise. Source: Denver Post on 2014 Colorado Senate debate Oct 15, 2014
Amy Stephens: AmyCare was lesser of 2 evils to exempt state from ObamaCare
Buck passed on a chance to attack Stephens for her support of the state's health exchange, which conservative critics link to the Affordable Care Act derisively as "AmyCare." On a question about the state's alternative to ObamaCare sponsored by Stephens in 2011, Buck rose to Stephens' defense, though he disagreed with her position. "If you look at Amy's career, you will see the career of a person who has stood up for Republican values time and time again," he said. "There are people in the Republican Party focused on one issue, and they shouldn't be, for any of us up here."
Stephens called the state-run health exchange "the lesser of two evils" to exempt the state from ObamaCare, and that she supports government closer to home. "When you see a tsunami coming, you have to make a decision," she said, adding she would vote to repeal ObamaCare. Source: Denver Post on 2014 Colorado Senate debate Feb 26, 2014
Cory Gardner: ObamaCare has led to 335,000 cancellations in Colorado
In recent months, Gardner, like most Colorado conservatives, has assailed Udall for his support of the Affordable Care Act.
Udall's office was recently involved in a dispute over health insurance policy cancellations in Colorado and Gardner called on the state's division of insurance to provide his office with updated cancellation figures.
The updated numbers found that as of mid-January about 335,000 Coloradans had received cancellation notices, though about 92 percent were offered renewal options.
"It's stunning that ObamaCare has led to this many canceled plans, and now it's coming to the forefront," Gardner said, at the time. Source: Denver Post on 2014 Colorado Senate race Feb 26, 2014
Mark Udall: AdWatch: Targeted by RNC robocalls for support of ObamaCare
Sen. Mark Udall is among 11 Democrats targeted by the Republican National Committee for their support of ObamaCare. The RNC is using robocalls and posting on Facebook to urge people to call their representatives and ask "why they supported President Obama's lie that people could keep their healthcare plans under ObamaCare."
The targets besides Udall are Reps. Gary Peters (MI) and Bruce Braley (IA), Sens. Mark Warner (VA), Mark Begich (AK), Dick Durbin (IL), Kay Hagan (NC), Mary Landrieu (LA), Jeff Merkley (OR), Mark Pryor (AR), and Jeanne Shaheen (NH). The robocall script reads:
"President Obama and the Democrats said you could keep your healthcare plan under ObamaCare. Now we know [SENATOR] actually VOTED to make it more difficult. Call [SENATOR] at (XXX)-XXX-XXX & ask why [he/she] lied."
The robocalls are a response to Democrats launching the "GOP Shutdown Watch" campaign, highlighting Republican senate candidates who supported the partial federal government shutdown. Source: MI Daily Tribune PacWatch: 2014 Colorado Senate debate Nov 5, 2013
John Hickenlooper: Current health costs restrain job growth & hurt families
The goal of health care policy is to ensure access to health care, while reducing costs, and without sacrificing quality or patient safety. We have a unique opportunity to become a healthier state while at the same time reducing costs & increasing job opportunities. The explosive increases in medical costs have put a strain on Colorado families, businesses and the state budget. In 2008, health insurance premiums represented nearly 22% of median family income. In the past decade, costs grew at twice th rate of the average increase in wages; at this rate, the cost of family insurance will reach $27,000 or more in the next decade. This restrains job growth, reduces the discretionary incomes of our families and makes it increasingly challenging for our state to adequately fund other critical services. It also means that hundreds of thousands of Colorado families and children are unable to afford basic health services. Source: 2010 Gubernatorial campaign site hickenlooperforcolorado.com Nov 2, 2010
Michael Bennet: I back fiscally sound measures, including Medicare cuts
When the debate turned to the economy, Buck accused Bennet of overspending in Washington but coming home to Colorado and talking up the need to cut the national deficit. Buck pointed out that the debt has risen $3 trillion since Bennet was appointed to the job last year. "He refuses to take responsibility for that $3 trillion dollars in debt," Bennet said. "He's been in Washington, D.C., and he hasn't done anything to clean it up."
Bennet fired back, "Quite the contrary." He said that he has backed fiscally sound measures, including the health care overhaul. Bennet described Medicare cuts included in that new law as "the heart" of the plan. Source: CBS-4-Denver coverage of 2010 Colorado Senate debate Oct 24, 2010
Ken Buck: $500B savings in Medicare is heart of health care reform
Buck offered Bennet an olive branch of sorts, saying Bennet knew what it was like to be a target of distortions. "Republicans did it to you during the health care debate when they said you wanted to cut $500 billion out of Medicare," Buck offered. "It wa wrong of the Republicans then and it's wrong of you to do it now."
Bennet said he too wanted to change the new Democratic health legislation, but not its essentials. "I'm not going to repeal it because people with pre-existing conditions will again be denied health care coverage," he said.
Buck insisted he would repeal it--getting a cheer from supporters. Buck said the law was produced by a "corrupt" process, especially the special concessions granted Nebraska and Louisiana senators to win their votes. "And I don't believe in centralizing the authority in the American government over one-seventh of our economy," he said, calling it the "nationalization" of U.S. health care. Source: Pueblo Chieftan coverage of 2010 Colorado Senate Debate Oct 8, 2010
Michael Bennet: $500B savings in Medicare is heart of health care reform
Bennet was pleased to hear it. "I hope you'll call your friends who are pushing an ad accusing me of cutting $500 billion out of Medicare," he told Buck. "That $500 billion savings in Medicare is the very heart of the health care reform bill."
Buck insisted he would repeal it--getting a cheer from supporters. Buck said the law was produced by a "corrupt" process, especially the special concessions granted Nebraska and Louisiana senators to win their votes. Source: Pueblo Chieftan coverage of 2010 Colorado Senate Debate Oct 8, 2010
Ken Buck: Government-run system infringes freedom & rations care
The Obama administration & Democrats in Congress have put the US on course to a government-run healthcare system that infringes on personal freedom, violates states' rights, will ration medical care and could potentially bankrupt our country.
We can do better. Congress needs to repeal Obamacare and enact free-market reforms that will preserve our freedom and drive down costs. Federal policy should encourage individuals to buy high-deductible policies and to establish health savings accounts. Source: 2010 Senate campaign website, buckforcolorado.com, "Issues" Aug 10, 2010
Jane Norton: Competition is key to lower costs and increased access
Health care reform must be based on empowering families, individuals, & their doctors, not Washington politicians and bureaucrats.
Individuals and businesses deserve more choice in their health care options, which promotes competition. I therefore support opening the health care markets across state lines.
Competition in the health care marketplace is the key to lower costs & increased access.
No health care reform is complete without tort reform & limits to frivolous lawsuits.
Source: 2010 Senate campaign website, janenortonforcolorado.com Dec 25, 2009
Michael Bennet: Committee membership: Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
Michael has not wasted any time. Just months after arriving in the Senate he has been awarded Sen. Ted Kennedy's seat on the prestigious Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Michael's seat on the HELP committee combined with his other committee positions on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; and the Special Committee on Aging will enable him, on behalf of Colorado, to continue to confront the country's challenges head-on. Source: 2010 Senate campaign website, bennetforcolorado.com, "About" Dec 25, 2009
Cary Kennedy: Increase tobacco tax and invest it in cancer research
The benefits of Cary Kennedy's passion, hard work and creativity are felt every day by Coloradans throughout the state:
Cary organized and led a broad, bi-partisan coalition to increase funding for Colorado's public schools. As a driving force behind the creation and passage of Amendment 23 in 2000, Cary helped Colorado reverse a decade-long decline in public education funding.
Cary helped develop a statewide initiative approved by Colorado voters to increase Colorado's tobacco tax in order to expand Colorado's investment in children's health care and cancer research.
Cary proposed and helped develop an adjustment to the budget to reflect growth in population (called the "growth dividend"), which Governor Owens signed into law in 2002.
As policy director for House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, Cary helped legislative leaders build the bi-partisan budget proposal Referendum C, and give taxpayers a first-ever annual report outlining how their tax dollars are spent.
Source: 2006 Colorado campaign website KennedyForTreasurer.com Nov 4, 2006
Ken Salazar: Take next steps toward universal coverage
As your United States Senator, my priorities will be to look at innovative ways to reduce health care costs, make health insurance more affordable, provide health care to the uninsured, lower prescription drug costs, and tackle the unique health care challenges of rural Colorado and elsewhere.
Next Steps Toward Universal Coverage
Cover employees of small business and the self-employed - I want to help small businesses provide health insurance with tax credits.
Cover every child - I will push to expand the CHIP program and provide new tax credits to help parents purchase health insurance for their children.
Expand options and reduce the cost of insurance coverage for everyone - I want to authorize the creation of voluntary purchasing groups to make more choices widely available.
Protect the unemployed - I will urge adoption of a 75 percent tax credit for middle-income workers who are in between jobs to help them purchase COBRA coverage.
Source: 2004 Senate campaign website, SalazarForColorado.com Aug 11, 2004
Ken Salazar: Medicare Rx bill was a mistake; need innovations
My priority will be to look at innovative ways to reduce health care costs. I support allowing lower cost drug imports from Canada, and we should give the federal government the power to bargain for lower prescription drug prices. It was a mistake to add prescription drug coverage to Medicare but not allow Medicare to use the bargaining power of its millions of beneficiaries to get the lowest possible prices. I am committed to looking at all possible ways to lower health care costs. Source: 2004 Senate campaign website, SalazarForColorado.com Mar 10, 2004
Tom Strickland: Control prescription drug prices
Strickland will work in the Senate to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries can buy their drugs from their pharmacies at the same average foreign price that consumers pay for drugs sold in other developed countries, including Canada. This measure would lower the cost of prescription drugs by nearly 40 percent without raising taxes or creating any federal bureaucracy. Source: StricklandForColorado.com, �Issues: Prescription Drugs� Sep 25, 2002
Tom Strickland: Add prescription benefit in Medicare
Tom recently unveiled his plan to address the high costs of prescription drugs by addressing the problem in three significant ways. Tom�s plan would:
add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare
require drug companies to sell their medications to American Seniors at the average foreign price those drugs are sold for in other countries; and
bring more competition to the prescription drug market by speeding the introduction of generic drugs.
Under Tom�s plan:
Seniors pay only $25 per month for their prescription drug benefit-guaranteed; Seniors get help paying for their prescriptions starting from their very first trip to the pharmacy
Seniors receive a 50% co-insurance policy with no gaps or holes in the benefit; and
Seniors with the highest drug costs receive 100% assistance.
The plan includes catastrophic coverage so seniors with the highest drug costs for conditions like cancer or diabetes would have all their costs paid after $4000. Source: StricklandForColorado.com, �Issues: Prescription Drugs� Sep 25, 2002
The above quotations are from State of Colorado Politicians: Archives.
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2020 Presidential contenders on Health Care:
Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)
2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)
2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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