Posted on 11/17/2003 4:57:20 PM PST by Brian S
Alerts
Topics Municipal Bonds Muni news Insurance Medicines Enter E-Mail Address: FAQ | Privacy Policy
Mortgage Services from Homebound Mortgage
Apply For A Mortgage By Joanne Kenen
WASHINGTON, Nov 17 (Reuters) - The largest organization representing older Americans on Monday endorsed the Medicare reform bill heading toward votes in the House and Senate this week amid questions about how much support it will garner from key conservative lawmakers.
As expected, the 35 million member AARP formally endorsed the $400 billion 10-year bill to revamp Medicare and add a prescription drug benefit. The group's executive director, Bill Novelli, has pledged a major advertising and education campaign to get it enacted.
"Though far from perfect, the bill represents an historic breakthrough and important milestone in the nation's commitment to strengthen and expand health security for its citizens at a time when it is sorely needed," the AARP said.
Republican strategists hope the AARP endorsement will help them win support from some moderate or conservative Democrats. support they would need in the narrowly divided House and Senate if some of their own conservatives vote against it.
"AARP gives the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval when it comes to seniors issues," said House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican.
Before his scheduled departure for Great Britain on Tuesday, Bush met late Monday afternoon with key congressional leaders to build support for what would be a major domestic victory as he prepares to run for re-election.
"I urge members of both political parties to study the legislation, to remember the promise we have made to America's seniors, and to vote yes for this legislation," Bush said.
Democratic leaders, including several of those seeking their party's presidential nomination, strongly oppose the bill, charging it does more for drug companies and insurers than it does for the elderly.
Some Republican conservatives complain it is a large and unwarranted expansion of a federal entitlement program that already has a troubled financial outlook. Many of them would prefer a smaller bill targeted narrowly on the poorest of those 65 and older, the age group Medicare was created to serve.
'A VERY BIG ENTITLEMENT'
Conservatives also say provisions of the bill to expand private health plan participation in Medicare and trigger congressional action if spending rises too much don't go far enough. A spokesman for conservative Indiana Republican Rep. Mike Pence said: "He's definitely against it. ... It's a very big entitlement."
Other influential conservatives, including Oklahoma Republican Sen. Don Nickles, have not publicly opposed it but have not signed off on it either. Nickles was invited to the White House meeting but did not attend.
Nickles was on the negotiating team, called a conference, that spent months trying to meld separate House and Senate Medicare bills before congressional leaders stepped in to close the deal. The conference must ratify that agreement before it goes to the House and Senate.
"He has not committed to signing the conference report," said his spokeswoman. She said he is waiting to see all the details, including a final budget analysis.
Liberal Democrats and allied consumer and seniors groups continued to pound on the bill as a Republican vehicle to undermine and ultimately privatize Medicare.
House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, blasted the AARP, saying it endorsed a bill that violated many of its own principles.
"The country cannot afford a Trojan horse deal which purports to help America's seniors but is really a cruel hoax that dismantles Medicare and does not provide seniors an affordable, defined guaranteed Medicare prescription drug benefit," she said.
I don't think you can expand it and strengthen it at the same time.
A more accurate statement by politician Bush might have been, "I urge both parties to make the government even larger and more expensive."
Nauseating as it is, I say, GO TED GO!!
I hate to say it, but yeah.
Wealthier Americans made more money while they worked, therefore they paid MORE into Medicare than the average worker. Now, after paying so much into Medicare, they will be charged more than the ordinary old people for trips to the doctor.
Does that not punish acheivement?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.