http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=5107827
By Adam Entous
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry lashed out on Tuesday at President Bush over his campaign contributions from companies picked to administer the new prescription drug cards for seniors.
Despite the uproar over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, Kerry stayed focused on his week-long message of a "badly broken" national health system and the rising cost of care and drugs since Bush came to office.
Kerry said health insurance premiums for small businesses have risen 47 percent in just three years, putting jobs at risk in what he called "the most inefficient, ineffective delivery of service you can possibly have."
"For four years, President Bush has been in office, and for four years the situation has gotten worse," Kerry told small business owners at a local pottery factory.
He also seized on Bush's campaign contributions from companies chosen to offer the new Medicare-endorsed drug discount cards, include pharmacy benefit managers Medco Health Solutions Inc. and health insurer Aetna Inc. .
"What we're going to do is break this cycle and start putting the worker, the individual citizen, the people, in front of the campaign contributions," Kerry said.
The Kerry campaign said Medco gave $5,750 to Bush's campaigns in 2000 and 2004; Aetna gave $25,925, with another $510,000 for the Republican National Committee between 1999 and 2002. Medco and Aetna executives also rank among Bush's top fund-raisers.
WOULD OFFER TAX CREDITS
The Massachusetts senator wants to offer tax credits of up to 50 percent to help small businesses provide coverage for their low- and moderate-income employees. This credit would cover up to 50 percent of the cost of employees' premiums.
"We can't just stand back and pretend that they aren't struggling," he said.
Bush is backing the so-called Association Health Plans, a concept that would let small businesses or other groups join together to purchase insurance.
Kerry said those plans would only make matters worse by increasing costs and removing consumer protections.
Kerry's push comes in a week when much of the public's attention was focused on the widening Iraqi prison abuse scandal. Despite the interest in Iraq, polls show that when asked what issues they want politicians to discuss, voters put health care at the top or near the top of the list.
Pressed to comment about the prison scandal, Kerry said, "The important thing is for the country now to get its path in Iraq correct. And we need to come together and I'm hopeful that we will."
Kerry has called on Bush to take full responsibility for the scandal and for the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Aides said Kerry was following developments in Washington and Iraq, and planned to read Tuesday's congressional testimony of the U.S. general investigating the prison abuse scandal.
Armed with new state-by-state estimates of rising insurance premiums, Kerry's goal was to stoke an electoral backlash against the centerpiece of Bush's health care agenda -- legislation adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare.
The Republican president had hoped the new program would shore up his standing with retirees, a critical voting bloc in November's presidential election.
But since signing it into law last year, it has been embroiled in controversy, from bribery allegations to revelations it will cost one-third more than the $400 billion anticipated.
This month's roll-out of the new prescription drug card program has likewise been marred by criticism that the discount cards are confusing and offer few savings.
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