I want to continue this close relationship as Governor, and I look forward to working with the AARP on the range of issues important to seniors including electric utilities. I want to expand seniors' access to home and community-based care options throughout the state to avoid unwanted and unnecessary institutionalization. I look forward to reviewing the recommendations that are currently being developed by the task force and to working diligently with the General Assembly to develop a sound long-term care plan for North Carolina's seniors. I oppose taxing the young to provide a prescription drug benefit for the elder. We should not mortgage the future of our children and grandchildren for some temporary security.
Health care is a private matter that is the responsibility of each individual.
Government involvement in our health care has driven up costs and decreased competition. I do support the state removing the many barriers it has placed in the way of using alternative health care providers. I also am an advocate of the use of medical marijuana, a benign drug that many older Americans find beneficial to alleviate pain or nausea. The primary purpose of deregulation is to open the electric industry to the sound principles of competition. Residential consumers will most certainly be beneficiaries of the competitive market.