Obama launches economic tour, promotes health care proposal

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) on Monday began a two-week economic tour in Raleigh, N.C., where he discussed his proposals to address the economy, health care and other issues, the AP/Philadelphia Daily News reports (Babington, AP/Philadelphia Daily News, 6/10).

During his speech, Obama promoted his health care proposal, which he said would reduce health spending by $2,500 per family (Raleigh News & Observer, 6/9). The proposal would mandate health insurance for children and require employers to offer health insurance or pay a percentage of their payrolls into a federal fund to provide coverage (Sabar, Christian Science Monitor, 6/10). Obama said that the proposal would provide subsidies to help U.S. residents who cannot afford health insurance (Bacon, "The Trail," Washington Post, 6/10). In addition, health insurers could not deny coverage to residents with pre-existing medical conditions, Obama said (Raleigh News & Observer, 6/9).

Obama also linked presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) with President Bush on health care and other issues. He said that "our president sacrificed investments in health care, and education, and energy and infrastructure on the altar of tax breaks for big corporations and wealthy CEOs." In addition, Obama said, "At a time when we're fighting two wars, when millions of Americans can't afford their medical bills or their tuition bills, when we're paying more than $4 a gallon for gas, the man who rails against government spending wants to spend $1.2 billion on a tax break for Exxon Mobil," adding, "That isn't just irresponsible. It's outrageous" (AP/Philadelphia Daily News, 6/10).

McCain has said that Obama proposes an "economic agenda based upon the policies of the past that advocate higher taxes, bigger government, government-run health care and greater isolationism" (Christian Science Monitor, 6/10).

Elizabeth Edwards

Obama on Monday also promised to work with Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of former Democratic presidential candidate and former Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), on health care issues, the New York Daily News reports. During his speech, Obama said, "I'm going to be partnering up with Elizabeth Edwards," adding, "We're going to be figuring all this out."

Elizabeth Edwards last month declined to endorse Obama with her husband. In an interview with People magazine, she said, "I don't like his health care plan or his advertising on health care, which I think is misleading."

Jen Psaki, a spokesperson for Obama, said that he has no plans for a "formal" relationship with Elizabeth Edwards but added that he "looks forward to seeking" her recommendations on health care issues (Saul, New York Daily News, 6/10).

NAIC President Discusses Health Care Proposals

Obama and McCain need to release more details about their health care proposals to allow the public to determine the cost, as well as whether the plans are "practical and can be successful," Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger, 2008 president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, said last week, the Kansas City Star reports.

Praeger said the proposals should address the need for adequate, affordable and continual health insurance and include wellness, disease management and smoking cessation programs. In addition, she said that the proposals should promote the use of generic medications, electronic health records and increased responsibility for health care among consumers.

Praeger also said that employers should not have to cover the full cost of health insurance. She said, "The global competitiveness of many companies makes that idea cost-prohibitive," adding, "Companies can find it hard to sustain sales and profitability when they are competing worldwide against companies whose countries subsidize their citizens' health insurance" (Karash, Kansas City Star, 6/9).