Read the Tulsa World continuing coverage of the health care law.It paves the way for nationalized health care and makes the United States like the socialized countries of Europe, says candidate Markwayne Mullins.
It's a huge expansion of federal bureaucracy and intrusion into the lives of individuals, says George Faught.
The two, who will face off in an Aug. 28 run-off election to determine the GOP candidate for Democrat Dan Boren's seat in Congress, agree on one thing: "Obamacare" must be repealed.
Mullins and Faught were quick to shoot out press releases decrying the U.S. Supreme Court's Thursday decision that the law is constitutional.
Their Democratic counterparts were not so fast with their thoughts.
Neither sent press releases immediately after the ruling.
Campaign workers for Wayne Herriman said repeatedly that he was either on the telephone or in a meeting when contacted about the issue.
Neither Herriman nor his campaign responded to questions on the issue.
In a June 22 Pryor Times story, Herriman said the Affordable Care Act is too expensive in its present form but that it has its merits. Herriman does not want to repeal Obamacare, as he believes it can be made affordable, the paper reported.
Herriman's opponent on the Aug. 28 ballot, Rob Wallace, was willing to talk about the issue in a telephone interview Thursday but clearly didn't want to highlight it. He said the issue rarely comes up when he talks to 2nd District voters.
"Really nobody's talking about it," he said. "Everyone's talking about quality jobs. Everybody's talking about Social Security and Medicare and the preservation of those programs for the seniors. People are talking about water. I'm not getting the health-care question very often out on the campaign trail."
The law has some good features but also needs some changes, Wallace said.
Two of the law's popular changes - requiring insurance companies to let parents keep their children insured to age 26 and preventing insurance companies from refusing insurance because of pre-existing conditions - have been helpful in his own family and for many other Oklahomans, Wallace said.
He also pointed to rules in the law to prevent insurance companies from canceling coverage when clients get sick as the kind of reform that many people appreciate, but he said the job isn't finished.
"We've got reform to do in the system because we've got to do something to make sure that we make health care affordable to everybody," he said.
Inflation of health-care costs needs to be reduced, and the system can't overburden small businesses, he said.
Wallace said that like many people, he was surprised at the high court's decision.
In the 1st District, the two men vying to replace Republican John Sullivan in Congress took different positions on the ruling.
When asked about the Supreme Court's ruling, Republican nominee Jim Brindenstine's response was short and direct: "You can let folks know I'm definitely disappointed. The individual mandate is unconstitutional, and Obamacare needs to be repealed," he said.
John Olson, the Democratic nominee, said many parts of the law are broadly supported by Oklahomans.
"I have said all along that the so-called individual mandate should be called what the Supreme Court has affirmed: a tax on those who choose not to buy insurance. All of us use the health-care system, whether we have insurance or not," Olson said.
"I look forward to working in Congress to address the flaws in the (Affordable Care Act) and continue to improve and expand the right to affordable health care that we all share."
With both the Republican and Democratic candidates determined in Tuesday's primary election, Bridenstine and Olson face off in the Nov. 6 general election.
World Staff Writer Randy Krehbiel contributed to this story.
Coming Sunday
A doctor, a college student, a small business owner and more - almost everyone will be affected by the Supreme Court's ruling on a controversial health-care law that's become known as "Oba-macare." We introduce you to Tulsans who wonder what it will mean to them.Original Print Headline: Ruling debate heats up
Wayne Greene 918-581-8308
wayne.greene@tulsaworld.com
Source: http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/articlepath.aspx?articleid=20120630_16_A1_ULNSrn209193&rss_lnk=12
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