White: I'm Back on the Trail.

He may be slowed down a bit while recovering from a back injury and week long hospital stay, but Darren White says he’s ready to campaign.

On Thursday he squelched rumors that he was quitting the campaign for the 1^s Congressional District. He says bloggers who claimed NM Republicans might replace him on the ballot at a meeting next Thursday with Heather Wilson are “absolutely false.”

In this PRESS CONFERENCE AUDIO White says he’s prepared to earn every single vote and eager to talk about important issues in the campaign, including health care.

"America has the highest quality health care in the world, but too many Americans (44 million) are without basic health coverage. We must enact common-sense reforms and market-based solution that will make quality health care more affordable and more accessible for every American."

4 Point Health Care Program:

Making Health Care More Affordable:

• White wants common-sense tort reform measures. He says they are necessary to reduce frivolous lawsuits that are driving up the cost of health care through unnecessary litigation, forcing doctors and other specialists to practice defensive medicine.
• He also wants to provide individual tax credits to purchase health care, and promote Health Savings Accounts, so more Americans can purchase their own health insurance.

Improving Accessibility and Increasing Choices:

• Allow people to shop for health insurance across state lines so they can find the plan that is best for them and their families at a cost they can afford.
• Make it easier for small business to pool together so they can provide their employees with the same quality health coverage as larger companies.
• Ensure people are able to keep their health insurance when they change jobs.

Keeping Patients and Doctors in Charge:

• Darren White says he believes that patients and doctors, not Washington bureaucrats, should be in charge of health care.
• Darren opposes government-run health care schemes that would increase costs, limit patient choice, and reduce the quality and efficiency of health care in America.

Providing More Coverage for Uninsured Children in America:

• In a country with as much wealth as America, it is morally unacceptable for children to go without basic health coverage. White says he’ll support a program to provide more children with basic health coverage through expanding the S-Chip Program.
• In case you missed it, Congressional Candidate Darren White released his 7 point plan for energy independence this week.

Here are the key provisions:

Innovate to find the next generation of energy sources:
We must continue research and development into promising new, clean, and reliable energy sources, including solar power, hydroelectric power, wind power, and biofuels.

Expand the use of clean energy sources now:
We need to expand the use of proven alternative energy sources, including nuclear power, natural gas, and clean coal technology.

Increase the production of American-made energy in an environmentally-safe way :
Today, about 70% of the oil consumed in the United States is imported, a significant amount from countries that are not friendly to the U.S. That is unacceptable when America has a vast reservoir of untapped resources. We must increase domestic production to increase supply, and lower the price of gas.

End bureaucratic red tape:
We have to bring new, modern oil refineries on-line to increase supply. Bureaucracy and regulations have held up the construction process long enough.

Encourage conservation:
Americans want to be active partners. We need to reward Americans who make their home, car, or business more energy-efficient through conservation tax incentives. We should help more businesses allow their employees to telecommute by providing incentives.

Corporate responsibility:
American corporations need to be partners in this process as well. I support increased fuel efficiency standards for automobiles. And there must be serious accountability tied to any tax credits for energy companies.

More oversight on speculators:
Some estimate 25% of the cost of a barrel of oil is due to speculation. The trading of oil futures should be transparent and subject to strict oversight. We must close loopholes, reform the system, and aggressively investigate cases of potential abuse and price manipulation.

Photo: MG Bralley