AARP balks at drug plan

[kayell]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usatoday/20030717/ts_usatoday/5330528

William M. Welch USA TODAY

WASHINGTON -- The nation's largest organization of seniors is threatening to oppose a prescription-drug benefit for Medicare recipients unless its objections are met, a move that could jeopardize action in Congress.


AARP, which has 35.5 million members, warned Congress this week that separate versions of the legislation passed by the Senate and House of Representatives offer inadequate benefits and could do more harm than good. It said it ''will not hesitate to oppose'' a final version unless improvements are made.


The group, formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons, has worked for years to get prescription-drug benefits included under Medicare. Its membership -- second in the USA only to the Roman Catholic Church -- gives the group tremendous clout on Capitol Hill.


This year, AARP has worked behind the scenes in the prescription-drug debate. Its aggressive approach reflects its fear that Congress is headed toward an insufficient benefit package and other changes in Medicare that could weaken the federal health care program for Americans 65 and older.

more

[CMT]

1. Good

it is a bad bill. It would be best to defeat this bill and hopefully a dem president with a house and senate which may be more democratic after 11/04 can pass a good bill.

[jos]

4. Agree

A bad bill that should be killed!

[fertilizeonarbusto]

2. The plan is meat

So's Chimpy

[0007]

3. A few years ago I was an AARP member

I gave 'em the pitch when it appeared to me that they only cared for the money folks and leaned a little more toward the right.

Read their magazine and draw your own opinion!

[madrchsod]

5. the bill is bullshit

and most people over 65 knows it. i`ve talked to a few seniors and they know it is a con. i guess the rethugs think seniors are all dumb assed repubilcans who love little georgie bush and believe he`s go`n to look out for them..ha!

[revcarol]

6. They may be working "behind the scenes?"

No, BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL!!

They have consistently represented only the white upper-middle class seniors. They could have visited EVERY member of Congress and Senator and told them that there was NO WAY either the Senate bill or the House bill was acceptable. AND THEY COULD HAVE SHUT THIS PRIVATIZATION AND USELESS BILL DOWN BEFORE IT WAS EVEN INTRODUCED.

But, they would not come out publicly for decent health care for seniors and the disabled.

They are "worthless as tits on a boar hog."

Common decency does not allow me the language to express my disgust for this organization.

[Star]

7. Oops

There goes the seniors votes. Buh-bye.