Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 24, 1995 TAG: 9510240063
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
"I think it's a local issue; I think it's a state issue," Marye said, "or I wouldn't be here."
Marye said if Medicare, the federal health insurance program for the elderly, and Medicaid, the insurance plan for the poor, disabled and elderly, are changed according to the Republicans' plans, working people and the elderly will suffer.
The Medicaid issue, in particular, may come back to the General Assembly if Congress succeeds in turning responsibility for the program to states in the form of block grants.
"I think we're going to have some terrific problems allocating this money," Marye said. "I guess the question is who do you want to be in Richmond when this particular program goes into effect."
Marye repeated the common Democratic theme on the issue: that Republicans are radically reforming the health insurance programs not to save them, but to pay for a massive tax cut for the wealthy.
Last week, Marye sent a letter on the issue to senior citizens, urging voters to send a message that they don't want "extremist ideas the Republicans are proposing."
Pat Cupp, Marye's Republican opponent, called the letter and Monday's news conference nothing but well-orchestrated propaganda.
Marye said he didn't see Medicaid and Medicare reform as an issue in the state Senate race. "I think he's trying to make it an issue," Cupp said. "What he's doing is trying to scare older folks."
Cupp, 55, is the youngest of six children. His three sisters and two brothers are in their 60s and 70s, and he said he's just as concerned about health insurance for the elderly as Marye.
"I am very, very concerned," Cupp said. "I've got too many loved ones around me that I want to protect."
Marye, 69, struck a similar tone, alluding to his 1992 heart attack and recovery.
"Being a senior citizen, having been in the hospital, I can tell you: One stay in the hospital can mess up your entire future plans for your family, for your grandchildren's education, for your wife's well-being after you're gone," Marye said. "It is a major problem."
Citizen calendar
Here's another chance to hear the candidates in person this week:
CLOVERDALE:, Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Read Mountain Fire Department, sponsored by Cloverdale Community Civic League. House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell and Republican challenger Trixie Averill are scheduled to appear.
Missed the debates?
You can hear excerpts from debates featuring candidates in four of Western Virginia's General Assembly races by calling InfoLine - 981-0100 in Roanoke, 382-0200 in New River. Press category 8683 (VOTE).
The excerpts, produced by public radio station WVTF-FM, are from these debates:
Marye and challenger Cupp.
State Sen. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County, and Democratic challenger John Edwards.
Del. Jim Shuler, D-Blacksburg, and Republican challenger Larry Linkous.
Republican Steve Newman and Democrat Barbara Coleman, the state Senate candidates for the seat that covers Bedford and Bedford County.
Dole wins Botetourt
All the national pundits had their eyes this weekend on the Republican presidential straw poll in Florida, where only 119 people voted. Yet, more people than that cast ballots in another GOP presidential straw poll over the weekend - this one at the Botetourt County Republicans' ham dinner.
Bob Dole won that one, too, with 51 percent of the vote. Phil Gramm came in second with 20 percent, followed by Steve Forbes, 10 percent; Pat Buchanan, 8 percent; Alan Keyes, 4 percent; Lamar Alexander, 3 percent; Bob Dornan, 2 percent; Maurice Taylor, 1 percent, and Arlen Specter, 1 percent.
Botetourt organizer Bud Brumitt said he tried to get the national campaigns interested in coming to Botetourt, but they passed - because Virginia, unlike Florida, picks its convention delegates late in the campaign.
Staff writer Dwayne Yancey contributed to this report.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB