S Senator John F. Kerry called a proposal to bring about universal health care in Massachusetts ''troubling,'' exposing a rift with US Senator Edward M. Kennedy, the state's senior senator.
''It could really be problematical to the system,'' Kerry said yesterday of Ballot Question 5.
Kennedy, who has made universal health care a priority during 38 years in the Senate, said this week that he plans to vote for Question 5.
Kerry said he will study the proposal more closely this weekend, but he is ''most likely'' to vote against it.
Question 5 would mandate a patients' bill of rights, temporarily prohibit the sale of nonprofit hospitals to for-profit companies, and establish a committee to draft a universal health care plan for Massachusetts by 2002.
Supporters say it's time for the state to guarantee health care for all its citizens - something a health care reform law passed during the summer falls short of accomplishing.
Opponents contend the ballot question does not say how the state would pay for health care for all. They say the move could jeopardize progress already made on health care and drive up costs.
Kerry also said he is leaning against a proposed cut in the state income tax from 5.85 percent to 5 percent because other tax cuts have been made since the income tax was raised over a decade ago.
Opponents of the tax cut say it will force cutbacks in health care and education.
Supporters of the income tax cut say it would make Massachusetts more competitive.
