Richardson Would Fund Health Care with Iraq Money

By Emily Esterson, 8-07-07

In Des Moines, Iowa this afternoon, presidential candidate and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson told an audience about his universal health care policy saying he’d divert funds from the war in Iraq to pay for the $100 billion plan. In the plan, he would extend Medicare to those age 55, spend more on preventive care, give veterans the option of receiving health care at the facility of their choice, and use technology to improve record keeping. In addition, he’d mandate that the insurance companies spend 85 percent of their premiums on health care. Hilary Clinton says she will have a universal health care plan as well, but has yet to announce the details. John Edwards’ plan would require employers to provide health care.

It’s really not surprising, nor is it particularly newsworthy: Governor Bill Richardson spends more than half his time campaigning out of state rather than at home being governor. So says Associated Press reporter Brian Massey writing on Richardson’s appearance at the Yearly KOS Convention’s Presidential Leadership Forum.  In June and July, Richardson was on the road three out of four days. Lt. Governor Diane Denish will undoubtedly run for governor in 2010, so the opportunity to run the state smoothly while Richardson is out bodes well for her. Most New Mexicans aren’t bothered by the road tripping guv. They’re used to it. After all, about three or four weeks after he was elected the first time he jetted off to North Korea. When Richardson was elected it was widely known he’d spend a single term building his resume and the improving the state so he’d have something to tout once he started campaigning.

In the “me too” department, Richardson ordered the Department of Transportation to inspect New Mexico’s steel truss bridges following the bridge collapse in Minnesota. According to the Better Roads National Survey, New Mexico’s bridges are ranked in the top twelve in the country. New Mexico’s 15 percent deficiency average remains well below the national average of 22 percent. New Mexico’s four truss bridges are I-25 over Nogales Canyon, U.S. 64 over the Taos Gorge, U.S. 54 over the Canadian River and U.S. 64 near Shiprock.

Online environmental magazine Grist.com sat down with Richardson recently to discuss his environmental policies. The questions ranged from what kind of experience and policies he’s already implemented to those he has plans for should he get elected. Richardson boasted about his New Mexico record, including shepherding the RailRunner commuter train into existence, purchasing energy efficient vehicles for the state fleet, and observing the Kyoto treaty. “We have no taxes on hybrid vehicles. We’re the first in the country to export wind energy. We also have a number of incentives for solar, wind, biomass, biodiesel, and distributed-generation fuel cells,” Richardson told Grist. He also boasted about getting Tesla Motors, an electric car manufacturer, to move to New Mexico. Grist finished the interview by asking Richardson to compare President Bush to a plant or an animal. Answer: Stubborn like an ox and immovable like an oak.

Finally today, the Hindustan Times reports that if he’s elected, Richardson would push for India to be given membership in the Group of Eight Industrialized Nations and a seat on the U.N. Security Council. In a speech to the Asia Society, Richardson said the security council should be expanded from five nations to 10, including India. The United States would also join the International Criminal Court, which President Bush has refused to do.