Sheryl Bautch is absolutely correct in last week’s letter to the editor that government support is increasingly inadequate for senior health care, but I want to remind everyone that government is theirs, and that we can support health care reform at the ballot box.

This November, a number of candidates support the single most important health care reform that we have desperately needed for years – single-payer health insurance. Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney and state representative candidate Tom Abram support single-payer health insurance. Democratic congressional candidate Dr. David Gill supports a national single-payer plan and Socialist state senate candidate Joe Parnarauskis supports universal coverage.

Single-payer health insurance will reduce costs, cover the uninsured, and lower out-of-pocket expenses for people on fixed incomes. After the debacle of the “doughnut hole” Medicare Plan D, it’s clear that we need new leadership on health care, and your vote will make a difference.

Joe Futrelle

Green Party candidate for Champaign County Board