Dean- Response to Medicare Bill Signing

[Rose Siding]

Response to Medicare Bill Signing

NEW YORK--Democratic presidential candidate Governor Howard Dean, M.D., issued the following statement in response to President Bush's signing of the Medicare boondoggle today:

"The Republican Medicare drug bill is a bust for America's seniors. Instead of affordable prescription drugs, Congress delivered a Beltway Special -- hollow promises for millions of seniors paying high drug bills, smothered in billions in special interest windfalls," he said.

"America's seniors won't be fooled when they read the fine print. It pays for less than a quarter of their drug costs. It limits their choice of drugs to what drug companies and HMOs decide they can get. It makes a Federal crime out of importing safe, affordable drugs from Canada. It actually prohibits the government from negotiating lower drug prices -- protecting drug industry profits at our expense."

When this bill actually starts working in 2006, tens of millions of Americans will be worse off than they are today. Millions of middle-class seniors will pay stiff premiums but get no drugs for months at a time. Seven million seniors will pay higher premiums unless they give up their doctor and join untested, unreliable Medicare HMOs. Almost three million retirees will lose their existing coverage. Six million low-income seniors will pay more--not less--for their drugs.

"We know what the bill should have done. Drive drug prices down. Let seniors choose traditional Medicare for themselves. Deliver affordable, generous drug coverage. The bill strikes out on all three counts--and instead offers up high drug prices, billions in drug industry profits, billions of HMO subsidies and a scheme to privatize Medicare," Dean commented.

"We must deliver a message to Washington. Skip the celebration and get back to work. America's seniors worked hard for this country and deserve lower drug prices and generous drug coverage. If Washington won't do it today, as President, I would deliver on those promises. We can and must do better," Governor Dean said.

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=10902&JServSessionIdr004=f4zh38pkv1.app195a&security=1&news_iv_ctrl=1301

[annxburns]

1. Nice response by Dean ...

... I saw one of the nightly news programs this weekend and they were slamming the bill too. Maybe we are finally getting through. They had an inteview with a senior who was going to lose her medigap insurance - they said 25% of seniors would immediately see their drug costs rise once the bill is enacted.

[papau]

2. We will see if media notes first 5520 out of pocket gets 1500 from bill

add the deductible the hole and the premium and the 25% not paid on the $2000 "coverred" - and those are the facts - 27.17% paid by Medicare.

But it should be obvious - there is only the 75% of 2000 benefit - or $1500 in the first $5520 out of pocket (where 5520 includes the 420 - or 35/month - premium one must pay as you accumulate your 5100 of bills)

And drugs not on the special list do not count toward the $5100!

And Medi-gap policies must be dropped so Seniors feel more financial pain.

and still no Canadian drugs

I wonder if the media will say anything about this tonight.

[loudnclear]

3. But it doesn't matter if we are "finally" getting through...it's always

too late! Just after the cabal gets what they want. They don't give a damn!

[JPace]

4. Howard Dean.....

is magnificant at reframing complex issues
so that average time starved citizens can
understand what is really happening. I am
impressed, I have not heard any politician
interpret as clearly on this topic.

[drool_n_yank]

5. I agree

I think this is what hurt Al last time , he didnt dumb it down and you need to dumb it way down to compete with shrub . Just remeber the average TV watching stooge has just switched over from wrestling .

[xxqqqzme]

6. I have been impressed w/ his ability

2 cut 2 the core since the 1st time I heard him speak. I was in a small (about 200) gathering in sept & Dean took questions from the group instead of delivering his stump speech. Answering w/ clear, concise words that actually addressed the question. Amazing!

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

7. And that's the way it is !!

Dean said it well.
Now why don't we see others speak out like Dean, like the way Kennedy recently spoke out????

What is wrong with the Dems ?

let's WAKE up our Congressmen and Senators!
Embaress them for supporting this. Ridicule them for it.
Expose the truth about this type of sell out!!

I think Feinstein voted for this ..she's not stupid..she just sold out.

When Kennedy attempted to try and block this awful profiteering legislation he couldn't get the rest of the Dems to follow suit.
What's with that?
Dean is who we need in the front. (Clark's good too.)

Go Dean !!

[radfringe]

8. wait till all the repugs

get a gander at their paycheck witholding - SS witholdings will go up

soooooo much for the Bush* taxcut - in one pocket and out of the other