NASHVILLE, TN – Democrat congressional candidate Roy Herron continues to walk both sides of the fence on the issue of Obamacare. Herron keeps touting certain provisions of the Obamacare bill while at the same time saying he would change others without naming specifics. He’s worked extremely hard side-stepping the question of what he would change, going so far as to skip answering it on an issues survey conducted last month by the Jackson Sun. Jackson Sun reporter Nicholas Beadle followed up with Herron last night and asked him why he didn’t answer the question. According to
Beadle’s blog today:

"[H]e has not been as clear on which parts of the bill he would seek to eliminate, not answering the question in a recent Jackson Sun issues survey. So what did he say he opposed in the legislation when I asked him about it at a fundraiser in Jackson on Tuesday night? It’s complicated, he said. He joked that explaining his feelings about what needs to be dropped from health reform would have been difficult to do within a couple hundred words on the issues survey… Herron is the only candidate in the 8th District race who wants to preserve parts of the health care bill, according to The Sun’s issues survey.”

“It’s a bit odd that when Roy Herron talks about health care, he can rattle off specifics he supports, but refuses to say what he would work to change if in Congress,” said Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney. “No matter how you look at it, his actions allude to support of this bill and if that isn’t true, perhaps he should think about sharing all of his true ‘feelings’ about Washington Democrats’ government takeover of health care.”

Herron has established a record of supporting government-run health care. For example:

• As early as last month, he defended Obamacare saying it wasn’t as bad as everyone thought:

“…[Herron] added that the legislation is not as terrifyingly bad as the GOP has painted it…” (”Fincher, Herron talk health care reform in early morning campaign stops in Jackson,” Motion Carried Blog, 3/22/10)

• In 1993 he supported efforts by President Clinton and Rep. Jim Cooper who offered up similar government-run health care plans:

“‘Do not give up on universal coverage,’ asked Clinton. Cooper followed Clinton and said his approach was much closer to Clinton’s bill than either the single-payer plan proposed by liberal Democrats or the moderate Republican plan. ‘We are also committed to achieving universal coverage, and I think it should be on the President’s timetable of 1998,’ said Cooper…Tennesseans and Mississippians attending the DLC’s annual conference said they believe Clinton is now on the right path after a rocky start…’The big issue for a lot of us is health care reform,’ said Tennessee State Rep. Roy Herron of Dresden. ‘I hope he and Congressman Cooper would continue to talk and find a solution.’” ( “Clinton, DLC tout success; health care split looms,” Memphis Commercial Appeal, 12/04/93)

• In 1996 while running for State Senate, Herron campaigned on universal health coverage:

“He also stressed support for ‘better schools for our children, better jobs for adult, and affordable health care for all citizens’…’Every citizen should have access to affordable, life-saving health care.’” (”Representative Roy Herron announces for Senate,” Dresden Enterprise, 07/24/96)