Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 2, 1994 TAG: 9403020173
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
"There's no problem in health care that won't be made worse by federal involvement," said North, a candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.
He said he doesn't buy the argument that the United States has a health-care crisis. What problems the system does have - "portability, affordability and accessibility" - will not be solved by the Democratic president's proposed overhaul, he said.
North said health care would be cheaper if doctors didn't fear malpractice suits.
"Much of our problem is not a doctor problem, but a lawyer problem," North said. "We've got to convince people you don't need to do 15 tests because some doctor's afraid he's going to get sued."
Health care would be more universally available, he said, if doctors could deduct the cost of free treatment for poor people from their federal income taxes.
North also said that while crime is foremost in the minds of most people, he believes the biggest issue facing the nation is "the role of government in the lives of everyone."
"How much more intrusion are we willing to accept, or can we accept? The cost of that is what ought to be frightening to everybody," he said.
He said he supports a balanced budget amendment, a line-item veto for the president and term limits on congressmen.
Earlier Tuesday, North put his best spin on early delegate election results that show his opponent for the GOP nomination, Jim Miller, may make it a tough race.
"I'm very pleased with the way things are going," North said. "When you look at the things that count - delegates and dollars - we're doing very well."
North made the comments at the state Capitol before meeting privately with Republican legislators.
North has raised more than $1.5 million for his campaign. He hopes to parlay his national name recognition, built largely on his role in the Iran-Contra arms-for-hostages scandal, into a $15 million campaign war chest.
North, whose felony convictions in the Iran-Contra case were overturned, is seeking the GOP nomination for the seat now held by Democratic Sen. Charles Robb. Republicans will choose their nominee at a convention June 3-4 in Richmond.
Robb is running against Richmond lawyer Sylvia Clute and Nancy Spannaus, a follower of Lyndon LaRouche, in the June 14 Democratic primary.
Miller and North both have claimed early victories in the election of delegates to the GOP nominating convention. Delegates are being elected at mass meetings throughout the state.
North claimed to have won 1,700 of Fairfax County's approximately 2,400 delegate votes. Miller, however, claimed to have the support of 1,231.
Of Arlington's 533 delegates, North said he had 295, and Miller claimed to have 319. After the votes were counted, more delegates filed - bringing the total number to 619 - and neither side could estimate who won most of the new delegates.
Delegates do not have to state a candidate preference, and those who do can change their minds. Party activists say that makes it difficult to say who is really ahead.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB