Published: September 18, 2008 10:37 pm         

Campaign for expanding government healthcare kicks off campaign in Valley

TERRE HAUTE — A grassroots organizer in favor of expanding government-provided health insurance hosted a “campaign kickoff” Thursday in Terre Haute.

James Budden is in Indiana’s 8th Congressional District looking for people who believe affordable access to health care is the top political issue this election year.

Indiana for Health Care is a division of Americans for Health Care, a nationwide organization, which Budden said is a product of the Service Employees International Union.

“It’s essentially a grassroots campaign,” Budden said of his organizing efforts. After the campaign kickoff at the Wabash Senior Citizens Center, Budden said he would be visiting the Sullivan Rotary Corn Festival and other area events looking for “health care voters.”

A news release from Indiana for Health Care stated that a small crowd and state politicians were expected at the campaign kickoff; however, only Budden and members of the news media were present. Budden said short notice of the event accounted for the lack of turnout.

Budden said Indiana for Health Care favors “quality, affordable health care with a choice of doctors and plans without gaps in access.” Preventative care and controlled costs also are key parts of the plan Indiana for Health Care supports, he said.

Indiana for Health Care favors health care financing that is “a fair balance shared by employers, individuals and the government,” Budden said. There are 83,000 Hoosier children without health insurance and there were 748,000 Hoosiers without health insurance in 2006, he said.

Indiana for Health Care is a non-partisan organization, Budden said, adding he will work with Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Evansville, and his Republican opponent for Indiana’s 8th Congressional District seat, Greg Goode.

For more information on Indiana for Health Care, visit www.imahealthcarevoter.org or call 1-888-436-8427.

Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.