Alexi Giannoulias Slams Mark Kirk For Health Care Reform Obstruction

Alexi Giannoulias is getting his Senate campaign in gear, attacking his Republican opponent Mark Kirk for working against health care reform.

"It is apparent that Congressman Kirk's single intention is to continue obstructing President Obama's health care reform proposal at the expense of helping Illinois families," Giannoulias said.

Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) took to the floor of the House on Wednesday to oppose President Obama's proposal for health care. Kirk has led a group of centrist legislators who sponsor a more conservative, incremental effort for health care reform. The White House proposal "leaves out nearly every major reform included in our centrist health care legislation," Kirk said.

But in response, Giannoulias cited a column by Greg Hinz of Crain's Chicago Business that laughed off the proposals in Kirk's legislation as far too small to address real health care problems.

"Maybe Mr. Kirk should drop his Senate bid and begin a new career as a stand-up comic," Hinz wrote.

Giannoulias also used the opportunity to push what appears to be his main line of attack against Kirk, painting him as a Washington insider and stooge for special interests.

He pointed to numbers showing that Kirk has received $1.3 million in campaign contributions from the health insurance industry, and referred to the Congressman as "Washington Republican Mark Kirk."

The two are running for the Senate seat once held by President Obama, and soon to be vacated by the widely unpopular Senator Roland Burris.