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 Health care costs

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

Answer from Sherrod Brown:

The first step is structural. All care for the elderly, including long-term care, should be incorporated into Medicare. This would relieve the states of the largest component of Medicaid spending and encourage cost-efficient integration of health and long-term care services for Medicare beneficiaries. I will continue to support legislation that would authorize the federal government to negotiate reasonable prescription drug prices for the Medicare program, as the VA does today. This could result in price reductions of 50% or greater. I will also support aggressive research and interventions aimed at reducing the incidence and severity of chronic disease, which is a major factor in the rising cost of Medicare and Medicaid. And I will support efforts to identify best practices in health care, which improve the quality of care and combat excess spending. Noon of these measures would shift additional costs to the states.

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.

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