DECATUR - U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Champaign, and his Democratic challenger, Dr. David Gill of Clinton, largely agree on the issues facing Congress and voters this fall.

That is where their agreement ends as they diverge on solutions to problems facing the nation and the residents of the 15th Congressional District they seek to represent for the next two years.

Johnson sees the issues as bolstering national security and the nation's ability to maintain freedom from terrorism at home and abroad, creating jobs and improving the economy and dealing with rising health care costs.

Gill, an emergency room physician at Dr. John Warner Hospital, Clinton, is making affordable health care the core of his campaign. He also sees job creation and retention as key needs, as is heightened security in the face of increasing terrorism worldwide.

Health care is an issue that does not lend itself to an easy solution, Johnson said.

Use of health savings accounts and the advantages of those to individual citizens should be expanded, Johnson said. Important legislation passed the U.S. House to create an association health care program under which 20 or 30 small businesses could pool together across state lines to take advantage of economies of scale to buy health insurance, he said.

A Congressional Budget Office report stated that plan would provide coverage to only about 600,000 additional workers and would cause premium increases for many small businesses, which would force some workers to drop coverage they now have.

Gill advocates the program proposed by Physicians for a National Health Plan, which he said the CBO twice has given favorable reviews. He said the plan would save between $130 billion and $180 billion annually in health care costs and would be funded by a 2 percent income tax and a 7 percent payroll tax on businesses.

"I'm not married to those numbers," Gill said. "I'm more flexible on both sides and advocate a graduated tax scale. Even a flat rate would save large amounts for 95 percent of individuals."

The United States spends twice as much annually on health care as any other developed nation but is ranked 37th worldwide in health care by the World Health Organization, Gill said. Having 1,500 health insurance companies creates a tremendous bureaucracy, he said.

There is hope for eventual passage of a reform plan because 120 congressmen have signed on to support a single payer bill, a number that is likely to grow, Gill said.

The candidates have sharply differing views concerning the war in Iraq.

"My hope is we will bring American troops home from Iraq as soon as they will complete their mission," Johnson said. "There is a price to pay for freedom. We have to stay the course."

Gill said he opposed the United States making war in Iraq since before war was declared. He admits he has suffered "some slings and arrows" on the campaign trail since the spring of 2003 for his stand.

"I have the utmost respect for our troops," Gill said. "They should not be in harm's way. The last four months, I've advocated for an immediate exit process. That won't happen with this administration. The way John Kerry is talking, it may not happen with him. It's chaos now. Our presence adds fuel to that chaos."

The United States should give the Iraqi people their resources, primarily oil, and see what they can work out with United Nations help, Gill said.

Concerning the economy, Johnson said transportation and spending bills being passed by Congress will build the infrastructure required for business and industry to stay where they are.

"The passage of the energy bill is important, too, for jobs not only in the country but especially in Central Illinois," Johnson said. "Government isn't, and shouldn't be, the solution for all our economic needs. There needs to be a partnership with the private sector."

President Bush's targeted tax cuts will provide the economic stimuli for businesses to expand and add more jobs, Johnson said. The federal government also can provide training grants to state and local governments, he said.

Gill said during his 21 months of travels through the 15th District he has found the North American Free Trade Agreement and other trade agreements have done a tremendous disservice to American workers as jobs have been shipped overseas.

The United States must withdraw from NAFTA or renegotiate its position within that agreement, Gill said. It must enforce fair trade with the nations with which it deals, only doing business with countries that have policies against slave and child labor, he said.

Gill said he also supports reversing President Bush's tax cuts.

Tim Johnson

Age: 58

Residence: Champaign

Party: Republican

Education: Graduated from Urbana High School; University of Illinois with Phi Beta Kappa and Bronze Tablet, the university's highest undergraduate honor; U of I College of Law, 1972, with high honors.

Experience: Worked as lawyer, small-business operator, Realtor, farm operator and educator. Elected to Urbana City Council, 1971; Illinois House of Representatives, 1976; U.S. House of Representatives, 2000.

Occupation: U.S. representative seeking his third term.

Family: Divorced; nine grown children and nine grandchildren.

David Gill

Age: 44

Residence: Clinton

Party: Democrat

Education: Graduated from Niles North High School; University of Illinois; U of I College of Medicine, 1988; three-year residency in Iowa.

Experience: Family practice physician, Delavan, 1991 to 1995 and Champaign, 1995 to 1996; Proctor Hospital clinic, Clinton, 1996.

Occupation: Emergency room physician, Dr. John Warner Hospital, Clinton, since 1999.

Family: Wife, Polly; sons, Louis, 14, and Holden, 6; daughter, Tally, 11.

Ron Ingram can be reached at ringram@;herald-review.com or 421-7973.