Candidates speak out on health care

The presidential candidates have varied widely as far as how much they have talked about the health care issue. Democratic candidate and former U.S. Sen. John Edwards unveiled a very specific plan during a campaign stop in Charleston, but some Republican candidates have barely mentioned the issue at all.

Here is a quick look at the candidates' health care positions, with further links to their campaign Web sites.

REPUBLICANS

Sam Brownback

"Our healthcare system will thrive with increased consumer choice, consumer control and real competition. I believe it is important that we have price transparency within our health care system," Brownback's Web site says.

http://www.brownback.com/s/Issues/tabid/60/Default.aspx#Healthcare

Rudy Giuliani

One of Giuliani's 12 Commitments to the American People is: "I will give Americans more control over and access to health care with affordable and portable free-market solutions."

http://www.joinrudy2008.com/

Mike Huckabee

"The health care system in this country is irrevocably broken, in part because it is only a 'health care' system, not a 'health' system," Huckabee's Web site says.

http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=8

Duncan Hunter

Health care is not among the 25 issues listed on Hunter's Web site.

http://www.gohunter08.com/

John McCain

McCain's Web site has no specific health care portion, but his announcement speech contained a pledge "to help Americans without health insurance acquire it without bankrupting the country, and ruining the quality of American health care that is the envy of the world."

http://www.johnmccain.com/

Ron Paul

"Americans are justifiably concerned over the government's escalating intervention into their freedom to choose what they eat and how they take care of their health," Paul's Web site says.

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/health-freedom/

Mitt Romney

"The health of our nation can be improved by extending health insurance to all Americans, not through a government program or new taxes, but through market reforms," according to Romney's Web site.

http://www.mittromney.com/Issue-Watch/Health_Care

Tom Tancredo

"The two major problems are the high cost of care and the number of uninsured. Tort reform and immigration enforcement would save the system billions and drive down costs. In California alone, illegal immigrants cost the system $800 million annually and have forced 84 hospitals to close," according to Tancredo's Web site.

http://www.teamtancredo.com/pdfs/healthcare.pdf

Fred Thompson

Thompson is scheduled to announce his candidacy this week. His exploratory Web site doesn't contain a link to his health care positions, but in a recent speech, he noted, "At a time when the demographics will shift and there will be fewer and fewer workers, at a time when the cost of healthcare will likely continue to go up, all those things working together will inevitably lead us to an unsustainable situation."

http://www.imwithfred.com/

DEMOCRATS

Joe Biden

Biden says one of his highest priorities is establishing universal health care and plans to convene a national gathering of key health care stakeholders from labor, business, the insurance industry, the health care industry and government within the first 90 days of his administration to work on a way to provide universal, affordable health care.

http://www.joebiden.com/issues?id=0003

Hillary Clinton

Clinton tried to establish a health care solution during the first term of her husband's presidency and often jokes that she has "the scars to prove it." She said that experience means she knows better than anyone how to fight and build the political support to get the job done.

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/healthcare/

Chris Dodd

Dodd says he has worked to ensure that every American has health care coverage, regardless of their economic status.

http://action.chrisdodd.com/t/41/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=295

John Edwards

Some observers have said Edwards has been more specific about how he would reform health care than anyone else in the race. Edwards actually announced many of the details of his plan during a Feb. 8 campaign stop in Charleston.

http://johnedwards.com/issues/health-care/

Mike Gravel

Gravel has called for a universal health-care voucher program. The federal government would issue annual health care vouchers to Americans based on their projected needs. All Americans would be covered and could use their vouchers to choose their own health care professional. No one would ever be denied health insurance because of their health, wealth, or any other reason. He said the voucher plan will also relieve American businesses of the cost of insuring their workers but ensure they get adequate care.

http://www.gravel2008.us/

Dennis Kucinich

Kucinich bills himself as the only candidate for President with a plan for a universal, single-payer, not-for-profit health care system.

http://www.dennis4president.com/go/issues/a-healthy-nation/

Barack Obama

"I believe that every American has the right to affordable health care," Obama is quoted on his Web site. "I believe that the millions of Americans who can't take their children to a doctor when they get sick have that right ...We now face an opportunity - and an obligation - to turn the page on the failed politics of yesterday's health care debates."

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/

Bill Richardson

Richardson's stump speech says health care is one of the first issues he would tackle, if elected, and his Web site says the solution "must start with the commitment that all Americans should have health care coverage."

http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/healthcare