Sen. Jonathan Courtney — a Springvale Republican — is urging fellow Republicans to take up health care as a major issue in the 2008 elections.

Courtney, who announced he is not running for the 1st Congressional District seat, is a three term state lawmaker who has worked on tax reform and business issues.

At the end of his “I’m not running ” statement, Courtney challenges the Republicans who do run to get moving on health care.

“There are too many people without health insurance in this country and, in my opinion the federal government must help foster a system where all people can purchase health insurance at a reasonable price,” he said.

He criticized Maine for making “health insurance prohibitively expensive for most citizens” and called for something else.

“It is truly my hope that Republicans will finally take the lead on this so we can create a system that is not based on socialization or rationing but competition,” he said.

Republicans who are in the race include Charlie Summers of Scarborough and Dean Scontras of Eliot. Steve Abbott of Portland is also considering a run.