Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[Rick Faurot]

Kerry Blames Rising Health Costs for Job Losses
Thu Aug 19, 2004 04:16 AM ET

By Carol Giacomo
BOSTON (Reuters) - Democrat John Kerry, citing a newly commissioned study, said on Thursday that rising health care expenses have cost American jobs and President Bush has done nothing to solve the problem.

The study, conducted by an economic adviser to former President Bill Clinton, "provides new evidence that these job losses were partially the result of the rising cost of health care," according to a copy of the findings released by Kerry's campaign.

The Democratic presidential candidate immediately seized on the study to underscore his campaign pitch to middle class and older voters who could prove key constituencies in his campaign to unseat Bush in the Nov. 2 election.

"It's bad enough that skyrocketing health care costs are squeezing family budgets. Now we have new evidence that the spiraling cost of health care is costing us jobs," Kerry said in a campaign press release.

"And our best jobs -- full-time jobs with good health benefits that let families get ahead -- are the ones disappearing the fastest. America can't afford four more years of a plan that hasn't saved us a single dime or created a single job," he said.

The campaign press release charged that families and businesses have shouldered enormous increases in premiums while "George Bush as done nothing to reduce health costs."