STUMP SPEECHES

	September 12, 2000
	A continuing series of excerpts from speeches by the two major party presidential candidates.

JIM LEHRER: Now, two more in our ongoing series of stump speeches from the leading Presidential candidates. First, Texas Governor George W. Bush; he was in Orlando, Florida, this morning where at a seniors' forum he was asked about access to health care. GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH: The issue of access really pertains to the working uninsured. And in my state of Texas, we've got uninsured folks, but they're also because of the disproportionate share of money, they're able to walk into the hospital and get help. We spend about $4.7 billion a year on health care, and so the fundamental question is not only can they have access, but what is the most efficient way to use taxpayers' money to provide? The most efficient way is to help the uninsured purchase affordable health care insurance. And I believe that we ought to have a $2,000 rebate per uninsured person, depending upon level of income, to help them purchase insurance in the... in the private markets. SPOKESPERSON: But there aren't dollars for prevention care. I mean, we have prevention program, yet patients seeking that often have a difficult time achieving reimbursement. GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH: From Medicare. That's right. Well, Medicare is short on preventive care. SPOKESPERSON: Absolutely. GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH: Medicare is a system designed in 1965, and as you all know, medicine has changed dramatically since then. And I am going to continue to make the case as strongly as I can that the current system, while it may be fine for some, is not fine for everybody -- and that we need to trust seniors to make choices in their life. We cannot have the government run the health care system. And I believe... I strongly believe that is one of the differences of opinion I have with my opponent. I was... I was not for the health care initiate that this administration first put out for the federal government to run all of health care. I thought it would have been a disaster for what I believe is one of the finest health care systems in the country. We've got problems, but these are problems that can be corrected with right kind of leadership. And I believe the integral part of any health care reform is to trust the people being able to make decisions for themselves in our society. And so Medicare-- you bring up the notion of preventative care- - Medicare does not reimburse for a lot of preventive care, and that's not smart, and that's not wise. See, I repeat to America, and I hope folks are listening, that a Medicare system that relies on the current system... the Medicare system is really not going to meet the needs of the elderly. It will meet the needs of some. And it's worked in the past. But as we head into the future, the system has got to be more flexible, it's got to provide more options for people, it's got to trust seniors to make decisions. Now some seniors aren't going to want to make a decision. Some seniors are going to say "it's easier for me to stay in the plan." That's fine. I have no problem with that. It's just that in order to meet the needs of the 21st century, in order to match a patient's needs with where medicine is headed, there needs to be a new system, there needs to be flexibility. This is an important issue that I hope people are listening to. JIM LEHRER: Now, Vice President Gore. He spoke to high school students this morning in Middletown, Ohio. VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE: I just want to say a few words about why we are making education the number one priority. I want all of you to be able to reach your full potential by having access to the best education possible. We need to put the focus on improving our schools, not just in a gradual way, but we need dramatic, revolutionary progress. We need to help each and every person in this country unlock limitless potential that lies within through access to the best education available anywhere on earth. That's why we need better trained teachers and smaller classes for more one-on-one time. That's why we need to make most college tuition tax deductible. That's why we need to make skills training and education a lifelong opportunity. We need to commit ourselves to education for our entire lives. Now in closing, let me ask you to think long and hard about how we can make our country a better place. And the last thing I want to say to you is something that I want to ask of you. I want to ask you for something that's difficult for you to give. It's something that people hardly ever give anymore. I want you to think long and hard about what it means to be an American, and instead of being cynical about it, really open your hearts and allow yourselves to believe without reservation that we can do the right thing in our country; that we can bring people of different races and religions together and end the hatred and end the prejudice; that we can lift up our schools and clean up the environment and give health care to the people who need it; and that we can reduce the crime rate and help deal with the alcohol and drug problem, and make our communities what they should be. You have the power as Americans to make the future of this nation what you want it to be, but here's the one thing you've got to do: You've got to allow yourselves to believe that as Americans you can do it, so if anybody every tells you it doesn't make any difference what happens in elections, if anybody tells you that politics is something that you should stay way away from, don't listen to that, because for all of the problems in government and politics, it is what we make it, and it is going to be what you make it. And I've seen in my lifetime over and over again how one person who is committed to making things better and who really believes that he or she can do it, can make all the difference. I want you guys to be that kind of committed citizens for the future of America. God bless you and let's make our country what it should be. Thank you all very much.