Kerry Would Fund Medical and Scientific Research

By Raquel Maria Dillon on Monday, October 13, 2003.

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Presidential candidate John Kerry told doctors and employees at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center that the Bush Administration is anti-science.
He promised to fund cutting-edge medical research and expand health insurance, if elected president.
New Hampshire Public Radio?s Raquel Maria Dillon has more.

The Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center invited the Massachusetts senator to speak as part of a series of policy discussions with the presidential candidates.
John Kerry told them he?s passionate about funding and encouraging medical and scientific research.
KERRY :14 America needs a president who will lead us to a new era of scientific and medical breakthroughs, help break down barriers to discovery so Americans can lead longer happier more productive lives.

Kerry blasted the Bush Administration for making decisions based on ideology instead of scientific research.
KERRY :18 never before in our history has there been an admin with this recessive strain of pessimism about progress and people. ? I say to you this is the most anti-science administration we have had in modern history in USA.

Kerry cited an example: President Bush put a limit on embryonic stem cell research on new lines of stem cells. Kerry says the president?s policy makers exaggerated the number and quality of the existing lines. He says such limits impede research into cures for Parkinson?s, cancer, diabetes, and other diseases.
Kerry?s plan to expand healthcare coverage is based on the lessons he learned from the fight in Washington over President Clinton?s 1993 healthcare plan.
KERRY :16 I?ll get to 97% coverage of all Americans within about 3 years. stop see who is the other 3% and cover them. Universal coverage.

But Kerry says his plan simpler and more cost effective. He?ll allow individuals and families to buy into the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, provide tax credits for small businesses, and let adults buy into Medicare before age 65.
Kerry wants to control rising insurance premiums and drug costs, and he says he can do it.
KERRY :?? I know how to reach across the aisle, get corporate executives to come to table and not make it confrontational, understand bottom line, understand ways to be helpful, provide incentives and capacities to solve problems.

For NHPR News, I?m RMD.