Friday, September 01, 2000
Bush defends health-care record
By Laurie Kellman
The Associated Press
LOUISVILLE — George W. Bush brushed off charges Thursday that Texas provides health treatment to too few children, saying a court order demanding action came from an “activist, liberal judge.”
“We are doing everything in our power to take care of the disadvantaged children of the state of Texas,” Mr. Bush told reporters.
Mr. Bush defended his record as Texas governor and his aides said the state's rate of signing up children for treatment exceeds the national average. He criticized the federal government for refusing to grant waivers he said would make helping children easier.
“The reason they're pounding me is because this is an administration of which Al Gore is a part that has been unable to lead,” Mr. Bush said. “They're trying to go on the offensive on an issue on which they are extremely vulnerable.”
U.S. District Judge William Wayne Justice, who was appointed by President Johnson, said in his mid-August order that Texas was not adequately providing regular checkups, dental care, transporta tion to doctors and information about what services are available to children in Medicaid, despite the state's promise in 1996 to make changes.
The judge's order, giving the state until October to come up with a corrective plan, quickly became fodder for the Gore campaign.
“Governor Bush has an obligation to explain that strong and very troubling court decision,” said Mr. Gore's running mate, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn.
Bush spokeswoman Karen Hughes said that in many cases parents have refused the state's offer to provide Medicaid coverage for their children.
“If Vice President Gore wants to complain about Texas, then he'd better complain about America because it's worse in America,” she said.
The Democratic National Committee had planned to announce a new ad highlighting problems in the state's Medicaid program. But the announcement was put on hold after senior Democrats decided they wanted instead to try to create a backlash over a new Republican ad.
That GOP spot, which could be aired as soon as today, questions Mr. Gore's credibility, reminding voters of his Buddhist temple fund-raiser and the time he took credit for the Internet.
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