The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Ohio and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on

Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest.

Answer from Mike DeWine:

Medicare and Medicaid are a vital health care provider for millions of Ohioans. As a United States Senator I have voted to protect and improve both programs because I understand their importance to seniors, the disabled, women and children.

Last year (2005) I voted against the federal budget. One of the primary reasons I did do was because it cut Medicaid. Last year I also supported protecting seniors from steep increases in their Medicare premiums.

In 2003 when many states, including Ohio, were having budget problems I voted for giving states more money for Medicaid so they did not have to cut services. I believe that the federal government must help states when it can so cuts to this vital program can be avoided.

I have and will continue to work on providing quality care at the most affordable cost to those served by Medicare and Medicaid.

Answer from William G. Pierce:

Two significant issues impact the burgeoning cost of health care in America and must be brought under to control:

a) Tort reform + The ever growing popularity of using our court system as a lottery ticket increases liability costs for our health care providers and in turn increases all health care costs, including Medicare and Medicaid, for the patients. It also increases the number of tests requested to generate backup documentation. We must place limits on judgments to reasonable reimbursement costs for malpractice and curb the runaway "pain and suffering" awards.

In addition, we must join the rest of the civilized world with a "loser pays" the legal expenses of the prevailing party to minimize the rising tide of frivolous lawsuits.

b) Drug research and manufacturing + overhaul government regulations which preclude expedient delivery of new drugs, and provisions to strengthen patents to provide proprietary protection for years of research.

The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.