Republican candidate for governor Randy Brock has released a new ad “How’s This Work?” slamming Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin for advancing a single payer health care reform law in 2011.
Shumlin has said he will not explain how he would finance the initiative until after the election. Brock takes the governor to task for not explaining to Vermonters how he plans to pay for the reforms sooner.
“Wondering how this is going to work?,” the ad says. “Higher taxes, reduced choice, price controls, rationing of service, and doctors leaving.” That’s how it’s going to work.
Brock says he would try to repeal the plan.
This is his campaign’s second ad in less than two weeks. Darcie Johnston, his campaign consultant, said it cost about $70,000 to run.
Brock said he based his claim that single payer will drive the largest tax hike in Vermont history on the Hsiao report and “the fact this is designed to be a publicly funded healthcare system.”
Alex MacLean, Shumlin’s campaign manager, responded to Brock’s charges in a statement: “What Randy doesn’t seem to get is that Vermonters are, today, being crushed by the skyrocketing costs of health care. In fact, looking at Randy’s plan, he apparently doesn’t think that older Vermonters are paying enough. Under Randy’s plan elderly Vermonters would be charged up to 300% more than younger Vermonters. Governor Shumlin’s plan, on the other hand, addresses the skyrocketing cost of health care through a single payer system that will contain costs and give all Vermonters access to quality, affordable health care.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 6:49 a.m. Oct. 3.
