enlarge File/The Associated Press

U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio

SOUTH PORTLAND — U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich touted universal health care proposals in Congress and in Maine during a meeting at a local union hall Sunday afternoon.

Kucinich, D-Ohio, spoke with about 30 supporters at the end of a weekend campaign visit.

A switch to single-payer universal health care would lift a heavy financial burden from the shoulders of families and business leaders, he said.

"Health care for profit is over. It's done," Kucinich told backers at the Teamsters hall on Thadeus Street.

The health care talk came a day after he addressed a crowd of thousands at an anti-war rally in Kennebunkport.

Kucinich is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination for the second time. He is part of a field of Democratic hopefuls searching for ways to address the needs of millions of Americans who do not have health insurance, which is expected to be a key campaign issue.

Most of the proposals introduced to date would provide incentives to make private health insurance affordable to uninsured Americans through tax credits and government mandates.

Kucinich's health care bill, co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. John Con- yers, D-Mich., essentially would expand existing Medicare coverage to all Americans.

The proposal would be implemented with a 3 percent increase in payroll taxes, reductions in corporate subsidies, a new stock- transfer charge and a tax increase for the wealthy.

Kucinich also stumped in support of an effort to replace Maine's Dirigo Health program with a statewide, universal health care system.

Organizers are collecting signatures to put a citizen initiative to that effect on the November 2008 ballot.

"We're already paying for a system like this. We're just not getting it," said Steve Dunn, 52, of Bangor, who is helping to organize the petition drive.

During the one-hour event, Kucinich spoke briefly about his plan to replace U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan with international peacekeeping forces, and he expressed concern about growing tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

"This administration is clearly taking the steps to set the stage for conflict with Iran," he said.

Maine was one of nine states where Kucinich gained more than 10 percent of the primary vote in 2004. He finished third in the state's Democratic caucuses with about 15 percent of the vote.

Supporters said Kucinich is ahead of his time and too often ignored by the national press. They said he was bypassed in 2004 by primary voters obsessed with their candidate's perceived electability.

"Every (election) year, we're left with Tweedledum or Tweedledee," said Joe Allen, 60, of Portland.

The weekend visit was Kucinich's fourth trip to Maine this year.

The congressman left Portland International Jetport for Iowa after the event and is scheduled to participate in a forum on cancer today in Cedar Rapids.

Staff Writer Elbert Aull can be contacted at 791-6325 or at:

eaull@pressherald.com