Welch wants to increase access to healthcare

BURLINGTON, Vt. --Democratic U.S. House candidate Peter Welch wants to increase the number of Americans with health insurance by enabling small businesses to join a national buying group and make it easier for states to develop their own programs.

Welch, a state senator from Windsor County who helped developed Vermont's new Catamount Health program, released on Monday what he called the "second plank" of his economic security package.

"Affordable health care is the single most important factor in the ability of our citizens to live healthy, economically secure lives," Welch said in a news release. "Every single American needs health care and we can significantly reduce the number of uninsured Americans while containing costs if we are willing to think creatively - just like we've done here in Vermont."

Last month Welch proposed increasing the national minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, the same as Vermont's minimum wage. The federal minimum wage is $5.15 an hour.

Welch said that during the five years the Bush administration has been in office more than 5 million Americans have lost health insurance.

Welch's health care proposal would create a Small Employers Health Benefits Program based on a federal program. It would allow small businesses across the country to join a single risk and purchasing pool.

It would also remove federal restrictions on states' own health care plans.

Welch is the Democratic candidate to succeed Rep. Bernard Sanders, who is running for the U.S. Senate.

Republican Martha Rainville is seeking her party's nomination as is state Sen. Mark Shepard and former Burlington restaurant owner Dennis Morrisseau.

A spokesman for Rainville said Welch's proposal would end up raising taxes.

"We need to look at ways to expand health coverage without increasing the tax burden on Vermonters and without stifling the innovation and initiative that have made American hospitals and medicines the best in the world," said spokesman Brendan McKenna.