The debate over the health care law passed in 2010 remains as contentious as ever, producing a deep split between liberals and conservatives and emerging as a major issue in Ohios U.S. Senate race between Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Republican challenger state Treasurer Josh Mandel.

It comes down to this simple fact: Brown likes the law and Mandel wants to repeal it.

Brown, who voted to move the bill through the Senate, argues that the new law would dramatically shrink the pool of uninsured people in Ohio while simultaneously allowing millions of women and seniors to have access to mammograms or prostate screenings without co-pays or deductibles.

They want to take all these benefits away, Brown said of the Republicans. And thats what they would do if this is repealed. Ill have that debate any day.

Mandel contends the law imposes high costs on state government and small businesses and says that it features new taxes that can damage the Ohio economy.

I agree with the majority of Ohioans that we need to repeal it and work together to replace it with something better, Mandel said.

Rarely in American history has a law remained so divisive after being signed. But unlike the Social Security Act of 1935 and the Clean Air Act of 1970, which both swept through Congress with strong bipartisan majorities, the 2010 health law squeaked by as Democrats barely overcame adamant Republican opposition.

The health care issue is very important among some voters, particularly among voters who are going to vote Republican anyway, said Paul Beck, a professor of political science at Ohio State University. Is it going to make a difference for voters who are genuinely on the fence? Maybe not as much as it would have six months ago.

Brown, in an interview in his Senate office, said there a number of people who hate anything associated with Obama. Dont be dismissive of that, but thats a part of it. But Brown asserted that opponents have absolutely lied about what is in the law, citing false claims that the Internal Revenue Service can come in and remove money from private bank accounts.

Barry Bennett, a Republican consultant in Washington and a supporter of Mandel, said Sherrod has got some explaining to do. There is no doubt that there are people in Ohio who like it, but there are a lot more who dont.

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Health care key issue in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race