Ask President Bush where to go for more accessible health care and he’ll likely send you to see an accountant.

In his State of the Union Address this week, he said that, “changing the tax code is a vital and necessary step to making health care affordable for more Americans.”

“I strongly disagree. President Bush’s ill-advised health care tax plan will do little or nothing to help the 47 million uninsured,” said U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor from an accountant’s office on Davis Island. “Instead, we should be across the street at Tampa General Hospital or down the street at Gorrie Elementary to begin working on real solutions.”

“Bush’s latest proposal is a step in the wrong direction. It will do little to provide more Americans with the affordable, high-quality health care they deserve or allow one more child in Tampa Bay to see a doctor,” said Castor.

Over the last six years, 6.8 million people have lost their health insurance, and premiums for family health insurance have risen 81 percent.

“The new Democratic Congress has a real plan for cutting health care costs and reducing the number of uninsured,” said Castor. “Our plan includes programs to help small businesses, and break down barriers to allow more parents to buy into the State Children's Health Insurance Program – known as Healthy Kids and Kidcare in Florida”.

Castor co-sponsored the Medicare reform bill two weeks ago as part of the Democratic “100 Hours” agenda to cut prescription drug costs by requiring Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices.

Castor learned firsthand the problems of the uninsured and those who might be forced out of health care. As a County Commissioner she fought to protect the award-winning Hillsborough Healthcare Plan from being privatized and turned to HMOs. Castor also assisted seniors with the ill-conceived and expensive Medicare Part D prescription drug program in a series of outreach sessions in community libraries and public halls in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties over the last year.