OH-02 Dem Vic Wulsin: If Elected, Won't Take U.S. House Health Care Benefits

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Democratic congressional candidate Vic Wulsin says she will refuse to accept employer-paid benefits from the House health insurance program "until Congress does its job and passes affordable health care for all." Wulsin is seeking her party's nomination in Ohio's 2nd Congressional district and says she plans to follow the example of Gov. Ted Strickland, who reimbursed the government for health care benefits during 12 years as a House member from Appalachian Ohio. Strickland has continued the practice in Columbus, and pays the state for his coverage.

Wulsin, the OH-02 nominee in 2006, faces a challenge from Steve Black, a lawyer who was a Republican until he turned against the policies of the Bush administration. She polled 49.4% of the vote in 2006 against U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt, who is seeking reelection. Although Wulsin lost, she ran better than Strickland and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown in OH-02.

Wulsin is a public health physician. Her first political ad of the 2008 campaign is now on YouTUBE and was shown on TV during some broadcast news reports about the Iowa presidential caucuses. The ad trumpets the health care issue. She also used the familiar I-approved-this-message-tagline, but added a kicker:"it's time to make your family a priority." She also tried to tie herself to Strickland, who is popular statewide, is a native of what is now OH-02, and represented counties on the eastern edge of the congressional district during the 1990s before population shifts altered the boundaries. Wulsin said she will mail a check to the U.S. Treasury every month to reimburse the House for any medical care coverage she would receive as a member of Congress. Strickland did the same. Said Wulsin:

Gov. Strickland took a bold stand for hard-working Americans without health care coverage. Spiraling medical expenses are hurting businesses and families. The time to ensure affordable, quality health care is long overdue."