Kerry accuses Bush of `incredible cave-in' on drugs [View All]

[Feanorcurufinwe]

John Kerry on Sunday accused the Bush administration an "incredible cave-in" to drug companies at taxpayers' expense, citing the dramatically higher cost estimate for the new Medicare overhaul. The administration now puts the 10-year cost of the prescription drug benefit at $534 billion. That is one-third higher than the $395 billion figure from the Congressional Budget Office that administration officials and congressional GOP leaders cited as they pushed the legislation through Congress in November.

Using the Medicare figures, Kerry expanded on his campaign theme that the main beneficiary of the new drug benefit is the pharmaceutical industry. "We learned that in their incredible cave-in to the powerful interests of the drug companies of America, they dunned the taxpayers of our nation $139 billion extra so they can line the pockets of people who contributed to their campaign," Kerry told an audience of about 600 people. "He thought you wouldn't notice what's happening."

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The Massachusetts senator added more endorsements Sunday. Washington's governor, Gary Locke, said Kerry's "experience and leadership skills will get our state and our country back on track." Also, leaders of the United Farm Workers union announced their support. "He shares our vision of helping Latinos and all people achieve the decent life America promises those who work hard for a living," said the union's president, Arturo Rodriguez. The union's executive board wanted to make its endorsement before next month's California primary, a union spokesman said.

Given his front-runner status, Kerry is spending more time focusing on President Bush and seeking to sound an optimistic theme that would fit a general election campaign. "This election has to be about more than words," said Kerry. "It's time to have a real conversation in America, it's time to make our politics meaningful. It's time to change." On issues from health care to job safety, Kerry warned that the odds have become tilted against working families. "We need to make it clear that we're not going to accept this unfairness, the fundamental unfairness that's taking over in the workplace and the life of America," he said.



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