Balancing budgets and health care: Possible experience for the presidency

Gov. Howard Dean, MD, built a strong foundation for social programs in Vermont. Is the nation next?

By Tanya Albert, AMNews staff. July 22, 2002.

The Nation is their Patient
Doctors serve America at all levels of government. This occasional series explores how their medical background influences what they do.

Whether in the examining room or the top political office in Vermont, Gov. Howard Dean, MD, has been passionate about health care.

As governor over the past decade, the internist has helped greatly increase health care coverage for Vermont children. He played a role in expanding programs that help seniors afford prescription drugs. He signed into law managed care consumer protections that are among the toughest in the nation.

This year Dr. Dean, a Democrat, will end his term as Vermont governor. His next political aspiration: President of the United States.

Below is what Dr. Dean had to say about his governorship and how being a doctor shaped his experience.

Question: As your term as governor winds down, what do you believe was your greatest accomplishment in office?

Answer: It's tempting to say that my greatest accomplishment was guaranteeing health care to virtually every child under 18 in Vermont because that is something that touches the families in my state. But I actually am particularly proud that I kept state spending in line, eliminated a $60 million deficit and lowered taxes three times.

Social programs, such as children's health care, cannot survive unless built on a solid financial foundation.

Q: How did having a medical degree affect your governorship?

A: I believe my medical background has helped me "diagnose" problems and "prescribe" fixes. That is sometimes mistaken -- particularly by the press -- as arrogance. But I think doctors are pretty unflappable in the face of obstacles that might slow down politicians. In addition, I look for commonsense solutions to problems that are based on science, rather than emotion. [...]