Health Care Reform
Senator Dick Lugar first stated his opposition to health care reform on July 28 in a statement sent to all Indiana media outlets.
Mar. 25 update
Senator Lugar voted against the health care reform legislation again.
Mar. 13, 2010 update
During an interview with WTHR TV after a meeting at the Morgan Hospital & Medical Center in Martinsville, Indiana, Senator Dick Lugar reiterated his opposition to President Obamas health care reform legislation.
Feb. 5, 2010 update
On January 5, 2010, Senator Lugar asked Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller 
to "review the current [health care reform] proposals and advise the House and Senate conferees in order that their deliberation may be founded on stronger constitutional grounds."
Released on February 5, Attorney General Zoeller's report concludes that indeed "there are serious questions as to the constitutionality of various provisions of the [Senate health care] bill." You can read the entire report on Attorney General Zoeller's website .
Dec. 24, 2009 update
Senator Lugar voted against the Senate health care reform legislation.
Dec. 21, 2009 update
Senator Lugar made the a statement opposing the Senate health bill.
"The current health care reform bill is not one that I could possibly support."
"President Obama and the Congress must recognize that the overwhelming demand of most Americans is still for presidential and congressional leadership to focus each day on restoration of jobs, strengthening of housing opportunities, reducing federal deficit spending, new growth in small business and large industries, and banks that are not only solvent but confident in normal lending."
"Health care reform is important and deserves a thorough, open, and honest debate. But Senator Harry Reid’s proposed comprehensive reform is likely to limit health care for many Americans at a greater cost to all Americans as deficit spending increases dramatically."
Nov. 29, 2009 update
On Sunday, November 29, Senator Lugar renewed his call for postponing the health care reform debate in an appearance on CNN's State of the Union show.
Nov. 21, 2009 update
Senator Lugar continued his opposition to costly health care legislation on Saturday, November 21, when the U.S. Senate held the first of many votes on health care reform. View the vote results.
Nov. 8, 2009 update
On November 8 and 9, 2009, Senator Lugar did interviews with Indianapolis television stations WTHR and WISH on health care reform.
July 28, 2009 statement
In his original July 28, 2009 statement, Senator Lugar said that the President and Congress need to focus on the economy and job creation. Further, Senator Lugar expressed grave concern about the United States' 2009 budget deficit, which holds true for the increasing 2010 budget deficit.
From his statement:
"A majority of the Members of Congress share President Obama's humane goal that millions more Americans might enjoy health insurance coverage and that medical care to all Americans might be substantially improved. For the moment, however, President Obama and the Congress must recognize that the overwhelming demand of most Americans is that presidential and congressional leadership should focus each day on restoration of jobs, strengthening of housing opportunities, new growth in small business and large industries, and banks that are not only solvent but confident of normal lending. In essence, the task facing national leadership is truly monumental. A national and international recession has not ended and many economists predict that unemployment in the United States will grow in coming months."
Additionally, Senator Lugar has a long track record of supporting prevention and advocating physical fitness. For 31 years he hosts the Dick Lugar Run, Walk and Fitness Festival at Butler University.
On January 29, 2009, the Senate included Senator Lugar's Children’s Express Lane to Improve Health Coverage and Program Integrity Act in the State Children's Health Insurance Program expansion. This legislation will increase health coverage for uninsured, low-income children, simplify state administrative processes, and reduce paperwork burdens for families and the government.