By TONY LEYS
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

The governor and his two predecessors are calling on Iowans to press presidential candidates for specific plans to improve health care.

Culver endorsed a campaign by Iowa for Health Care, a group organized by the Service Employees International Union. The union, which backed his candidacy for governor last fall, said its offshoot has 20,000 Iowans signed up to help pressure presidential campaigns on health care issues.

The partnership includes unions, employers, religious groups and health care companies and associations. Most of its initial funding came from drug-makers. Organizers said three-quarters of America's health care spending goes to treat chronic ailments. They said the key to controlling medical costs is to prevent such diseases and to manage them when they crop up.

Vilsack said the cost of chronic, preventable diseases will balloon as baby boomers age. He urged Iowans to raise the subject with presidential candidates campaigning here for caucus votes.