GOP Still Seeking Afterglow of Vote on Drug Benefits

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14991-2004Feb28.html

Three months after the GOP-controlled Congress expanded Medicare to include prescription drug benefits that Americans have long wanted, the political bounce that Republicans had hoped for is eluding them, as critics rail against the new law and voters say they still trust Democrats more on the issue.

The criticisms and setbacks for the party have come rapidly, just as Republicans enter an election season in which they had hoped Medicare would shine as one of their brightest domestic achievements. The House ethics committee is investigating a GOP lawmaker's vote on the bill, and a federal agency is questioning the legality of the Bush administration's $9.5 million advertising campaign to promote the law. Several Republicans are angry that the White House's most recent cost estimate for the changes in the program is one-third more than Congress had been led to believe.

In such a volatile climate, liberal and conservative lawmakers, for different reasons, are racing to introduce bills to change key aspects of the law. Discontent is strong enough on Capitol Hill that some Republicans say the Medicare legislation, which passed the House and Senate by sliver-thin margins in November, probably would fail if the votes were taken today.

"There is buyers' remorse among many who voted for it," said Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), who opposed the bill and said he has encountered no criticism from constituents.

[Thucydides]

1. Bring on the backlash, you reap what you sow, may it come back

to haunt them ten fold!

[dusty64]

14. Bringing up the rethugs

ties to the pharm companies wouldn't hurt either as well as explaining EXACTLY why this plan is a screwjob to seniors and was ONLY crafted to help the drug companies.

[gristy]

2. They can do this???

liberal and conservative lawmakers, for different reasons, are racing to introduce bills to change key aspects of the law.

Of course they can! So get to it.
Imagine the fun when the Dem President gets in next January.
And imagine the whiz-bang, over-the-top fun if the House and Senate regain Dem majorities in Jan.
Repuke laws will be dropping like flies.
But I am enough of a realist to understand that the Dems have their own faults (they like to spend money too), and they will still need us to point out any errors in their ways.

[Dr Fate]

3. We all need to be tough, fair critics of DEMS after the election...

but now we need to unify and support DEMS...

[Thucydides]

4. You misread my intended train of thought Dr. Fate....

My ire was directed at the GOP!

Three months after the GOP-controlled Congress expanded Medicare to include prescription drug benefits that Americans have long wanted, the political bounce that Republicans had hoped for is eluding them, as critics rail against the new law and voters say they still trust Democrats more on the issue.

On Edit: Trust me I am staunch supporter of Dem unity, and ABB!

[gristy]

7. The Dr. was responding to my post, Thucydides.

BTW, welcome to DU! :hi:

[Dr Fate]

8. Welcome to DU!!

Good evening to everyone!!!

[wryter2000]

18. Welcome to DU

I'm not going to try pronouncing your name.

:hi:

[Thucydides]

20. Here's some help, and thanks for the welcome!

Thu•cyd•i•des

Pronunciation: (thOO-sid'i-dEz"),
—n.c460–c400b.c.,
Greek historian.

[newyawker99]

22. Hi Thucydides!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Toots]

16. (they like to spend money too)

Believe it or not, that is the responsibility of government. Tax and Spend. That is what government does. It is how the money is spent that is paramount. Endless War and War Profiteering is the GOP approach and we see the results of that. The Democrats want to spend on America. Roads, Hospitals, Sewers, Airports, Education, Health care, Environment, Security, etc. etc. How do you wish your tax dollars be spent?

[Crachet2004]

21. Hear , Hear...

After all, in the words of Dick Cheney, "Reagan proved that deficits don't matter"!

So why can't we have all the benifits, programs and new construction you just mentioned? Not a single damn reason, just gotta beat the other guys first and get our priorities straight.

Probably ought to pull our military back home too...cut it back and save a lot of money that way.

If our military isn't overseas, our corporations will find it much harder to be there, force them to play by the rules, fair rules-bring the jobs back home!

If we cut the military back, the next republican president will be limited as to who he can attack. This would be a good thing, too.

If they can attack and spend, we can not-attack and spend-on our real needs!

[Jax]

5. Afterglow?

I think that any afterglow they will see is the light on the quickly oncoming train in their faces.

I am north of Seattle and what I see is that it is very convoluted language, difficult for Seniors to figure out. Probably the point.

And of course they lied about the cost. Lying is breathing to these sleaze. :puke:

snips...
"The 678-page law contains the most profound and expensive revisions in the history of Medicare, which provides health insurance to about 40 million elderly and disabled Americans. In addition to the drug coverage, which starts in two years, the legislation tries to tilt the program toward the private sector, offering the drug benefits through insurance companies and encouraging patients to join private health plans."

"Democrats also have joined several Republicans in pouncing on last month's White House prediction that the law will cost $534 billion during the next decade. That's one-third more than the $400 billion price tag promised by Bush and predicted by Congress's budget analysts."

Thanks for the post rmpalmer.

Jax

[Art_from_Ark]

13. Private health plans suck

My folks back in Arkansas are paying twice as much for their health care there, with a private plan, as I am paying for my whole family in the Japanese national health care system. If my folks were in Japan, they wouldn't have to pay any premiums because of their age. What's more, I know exactly what sort of expenses are covered in my plan, and there is no deductible-- the health care plan pays 70%, and I pay 30%-- for all doctor visits, dentist visits, necessary hospitalization, and prescription drugs.

[Leilani]

6. Hope they don't hold their breath

waiting for the afterglow.

That bill was the most craven piece of political s__t, & we'll be paying for it for a long time.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

9. They must be on drugs if they expect an afterglow.

Didn't the so called "Drug Benifits Bill" make it illegal for seniors to buy drugs in Canada? Who cares if they get lower prices there.

It should be called "The Drug Company Benifits Bill".

[Wapsie B]

10. Even my old man

who would make a John Bircher look like a commie doesn't like this bill. Would it make him vote for a Dem? Probably not, but for many other repugs more moderate than he it might be a tipping point.

[Bozita]

11. The afterglow is citizens burning their AARP membership cards

The "doughnut hole" is a license to print money for AARP's insurance business.

The members have been "had" and they know it.

[aquart]

12. Maybe they should have put in a real drug benefit, instead of a fake one.

Think that might have made a difference?

They really thought AARP had legions of docile, senile, old, blind, deaf biddies just waiting to vote their gratitude.

If they had genuine "buyer's remorse," the bastards would be jumping out of windows. They're just nervous that maybe the congressionals aren't going to be a slam dunk like they thought.

And they're working on improving their own benefits!!!!

[Star]

19. Speaking of AARP

I just received an offer for a "Prescription Savings Card" from them. What a coincidence, huh? Now, why would I need this service and pay for this card if Medicaid provides a prescription drug benefit that was endorsed by the AARP? Wouldn't you think Medicaid would be enough?

Please note: I didn't request this card - it was just sent to me in the mail, and I only have to call the 1-800 number to activate it, and then pay $19.95/year ($39.90 for me and my spouse). Wonder how many millions of these cards they have mailed to unsuspecting people?

[remfan]

15. That's what happens when legislation is designed strictly for use

as a political tool. Maybe next time the GOP won't be so eager to keep a 15 minute vote open for 3 hours.

[bushwakker]

17. Can't turn chickenshit into chicken salad*