Health care tops Obama LV talk

Unlike the last time he visited Nevada, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is ready to talk about health care.

The Illinois senator last came to Las Vegas in March, when he and most of the other Democratic contenders participated in a forum on health care. Obama was criticized for being short on specifics, telling the crowd that he hadn’t yet fleshed out his plans to tackle the issue.

On Tuesday, Obama outlined his plan for health care in a speech in Iowa. Later this week, he’ll visit Reno and Las Vegas and will be bringing his new health care message.

“We’ll have town hall meetings where people will be able to ask about a variety of issues,” Obama said. “But obviously this will be a prominent issue. I haven’t been to any part of the country where people aren’t concerned about health care.”

Obama’s inability to utter more than vague platitudes at the March forum was taken by critics as proof that behind his “rock star” image was a candidate of insufficient substance.

Asked about that criticism on Tuesday, Obama said, “I thought it was a bit premature. … Other than John Edwards, nobody had released a detailed plan. But I understand that folks feel a lot of urgency around this issue.”

Obama’s plan would subsidize health insurance for those who can’t afford it while instituting measures he said would make health care more efficient and bring down costs. He said the average family would save $2,500 per year on health insurance premiums under the plan.

Obama’s proposal would cost at least $50 billion per year. He says he would get the money by getting rid of some of President Bush’s tax cuts and possibly increasing taxes on the wealthy.

Other candidates have said they could provide universal health care without increasing taxes. Obama said others would have to speak for themselves, but “we have made conservative estimates of what it would take to make sure everybody’s got coverage and families are provided some relief. I have no interest in spending more than we need to, but I do want to ensure that no family has to rely on the emergency room for a treatable illness.”

The campaign said the plan would help 417,000 Nevadans currently without health insurance, including 93,000 children.

Obama’s visit to Las Vegas is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Friday at Silverado High School, 1650 Silver Hawk Ave., near Maryland Parkway and Pebble Road, and is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Advance tickets are available at Obama’s Las Vegas headquarters, 3041 E. Flamingo Road.

Obama plans to address the Culinary workers union Friday morning in Las Vegas.

On Thursday, Obama will be in Reno for a noon rally at the Wingfield Park Amphitheater.

Edwards’ campaign said he would be in Nevada on Saturday to address the Culinary union.