Presidential candidate Dick Gephardt outlined his plan to resurrect the “failed health care system” to nearly 100 central Iowa women Friday.

U.S. Rep. Gephardt, D-Mo., who is at the top of some Iowa opinion polls, spoke at Java Joe’s Coffeehouse, 214 4th St. in Des Moines.

Gephardt said he would revolutionize the health care system, making coverage available for everyone. The plan would pay for 65 percent of the cost of health care for individuals, Gephardt said, benefiting those who had no health insurance, particularly single mothers.

Gephardt’s plan will cost $250 billion, which would be paid for by repealing President George Bush’s tax cuts, he said. He insisted the price tag should not be thought of as additional fees, but rather a relocation of money that is not being used properly.

Gephardt argued with people who put a price tag on his plan because he said taxpayers were already paying the price, but not receiving any of the benefits.

“We’re paying anyway, and these people have worse problems than they should have,” he said. “This current system is insane and irrational.”

Not everyone was sold on Gephardt’s plan.

Des Moines resident Kathleen McQuillen asked Gephardt how it was possible to meet the health care needs of Americans while the country was spending billions of dollars to “expand our empire in Iraq.”

Gephardt replied by saying he didn’t want to pull the plug on support of the troops and Iraqis.

“I don’t want to send the wrong message to people dodging bullets and people wondering if they will ever have a democracy in Iraq by voting against aid,” he said.

Gephardt said his health care plan would not be put in jeopardy by the situation in Iraq, because his plan was less expensive in the long run.

Another criticism came from Kathy McFarlin, a nurse at the Des Moines YWCA.

Even though Gephardt promised 65 percent assistance in health insurance, the problem of coverage would still exist, she said.

“His plan won’t solve the problem of people without health insurance,” McFarlin said. “The women I work with have absolutely no money. They wouldn’t be helped with 65 percent assistance because they can’t pay 35 percent of anything.”

Gephardt, whose campaign was recently overshadowed by Howard Dean, has reclaimed the lead in a few Iowa opinion polls. A poll conducted by a group of Democratic political consultants called the “Democracy Corps,” conducted Oct. 2 through 13, said Gephardt has a two-point lead over Dean.

Gephardt’s campaign has been criticized by opponents as being impassionate compared Dean’s fiery pep rallies.

Sarah Swisher, state director of Iowans for Health Care, dismissed that notion.

“Calling [Gephardt] impassionate is the wrong way to describe him,” Swisher said. “I’ve been very moved hearing him talk about his son’s battle with cancer. He also strikes an emotional chord when he talks about the morality of this issue.”