By Amy Riggin
Stephens Media
PINE BLUFF — To win her support, a health care reform measure must not create a new entitlement but safeguard those already in place — Medicare, Medicaid, veterans health care and Tricare for active duty military personnel, U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln says.
“Your Medicare will be fine,” Lincoln told a woman who identified herself as a senior citizen during a health care town meeting Thursday held on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
The audience of more than 300 was more subdued during the forum here than the sometimes raucous crowd the senator faced Wednesday at Arkansas Tech in Russellville.
Lincoln said she was against a “purely government-funded” public option for health insurance and would only support government involvement “as long as it’s not a new entitlement program.”
A health insurance “exchange” similar to the program members akin to what members of Congress have may be an idea worth considering, she said.
“We have a choice of about 24 different plans,” all of which are provided by private insurers, she said. “They give us more meaningful coverage” through competition.
Ideally, Lincoln said, health care legislation should hold down costs, not create new debt, put more focus on wellness and prevention and provide better access to insurance coverage.
She said she would not support legislation to use federal money for abortions, except in the case of rape, incest or risk to the mother’s life.
“It will also specify that any assistance would not be able to be used to purchase insurance that would cover (abortions),” she said. “That’s clear.”
She also said she supports tort reform to bring down health costs and placing an excise tax on “excessive” insurance plans to curb long-term costs.
Several groups were represented at the forum, including health care reform advocates like Lorease Williams, who received several “honks for health care” from passing motorists.
“We want to know will they eliminate deductibles and also gaps in Medicare,” said Kendra Stokes, a UAPB student.
Supporters of the Clean Energy and Security Act passed by the House touted the measure they said would create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming pollution and transition the nation to a clean energy economy.
But Lincoln said she does not the House cap-and-trade bill because it “picks winners and losers” and places an unfair burden on domestic oil refineries.
“I would rather take an approach using more of a carrot as opposed to a stick,” she said. “We have to create a better balance.”
Lincoln said the purpose of the town halls is to gather input to take back to the Senate.
“If I thought I had all the answers I’d be banging down the doors in Washington,” she said.
She was scheduled to participate in another meeting Friday in Jonesboro. The Senate reconvenes Tuesday and President Barack Obama is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday.
