Bush defends new Medicare costs

AZ Central ^ | Jan. 31, 2004 | Associated Press

[yonif]

WASHINGTON - President Bush defended the recently enacted Medicare overhaul Friday despite a dramatic increase in its projected costs, as his budget director received an earful from angry Republican lawmakers.

"The Medicare reform we did is a good reform. It fulfills a long-standing promise to our seniors," Bush told reporters after a meeting with economists who support his agenda. The president sidestepped questions, however, about whether the suddenly ballooning cost estimates for the bill had upset lawmakers.

[RJCogburn]

"They also expressed disbelief over why the administration did not reveal the new, higher Medicare estimates earlier. Some of them said they believed the bill would not have passed had the higher cost projections been known, the participants said.

Bush said he received the new figures two weeks ago."

A 30% "error" in just a couple of months. Hard to believe, isn't it. But then maybe it wasn't an error.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1068912/posts

[Hank Rearden]

"The Medicare reform we did is a good reform. It fulfills a long-standing promise to our seniors," Bush told reporters

Translation: "We promised we'd buy your votes, not matter what the cost. And yeah, we know it's gonna cost a trillion. Now shut up and re-elect me."

[The Other Harry]

That SOB has never seen a dollar he didn't want to spend.

[cksharks]

I find it admirable that a socalled conservative would Call the comander in chief and President a son of a bitch. I would bet Mrs bush would be annoyed

[meenie]

Oh, yes he has! He wants to spend your money. What happened to the "You can spend your money more wisely than the government" when discussing the tax cuts?

[Bommer]

When its a 30% cost overrun, socialistic program pissing away my money and he claims he's conservative, SOB seem very appropriate. Nicer term then what any Democrap has ever referred to him as!

[daler]

Well, if nothing else I guess it'll neutralize the usual Democrat election-year blather about "Draconian Republican Cuts."

[flashbunny]

classy.

[Bommer]

I find it admirable that a socalled conservative would Call the comander in chief and President a son of a bitch.

What the f__k asshole

Oh please teach me of your compassionate conservatism....or will that cost me? Just quote me a price and I'll add 30% over it for the real cost!

[MizzouTigerRepublican]

Why cant Dubya stop this damn spending. More money for the freaking arts? Medicare to everyone... woo hoo get in line folks the GOP is giving away money! I am so upset with the GOP on this spending spree they are on. How about tightening the belts and stop spending!

[God is good]

The First Dictator wants socialism. SOCIALISM FOR AMERICA, SOICALISM FOR AMERICA!! NO REPRESENTATION WITHOUT SOCIALISM IN AMERICA!!!!

BUSH'S COMPASSION IS SOCIALISM!

[TheEaglehasLanded]

For anyone upset about this, Call White House Operator at 202-456-2369 and ask for Karl Rove's Office. Tell him he won't have the rank and file out working to keep him in office if this crap keeps up.

[God is good]

Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.Bush is not a conservative.

[Henchman]

As a senior whose out of pocket medical, after insurance last year was $9000, I say the prescription drug plan is Socialist BS and should be scrapped. The "elderly" are the richest segment of the countrey, average prescription costs are $750 per senior per year and do not need the hand out. Bushole has transferred our medical bills to our children, grandchildren. These folks willl have to pay for the welfare the Guest Workers will require and whos,legfally or illegally, will vote with their American children to take the wealth we created out of our children's pockets. Sorry, Bush, yeah SHRUB, and I will not vote Democrat even though I can no longer vote for Jr. Are ther any sane conservative republicans that could run for President????

[Holden Magroin]

Having signed his now-$600-billion prescription drug entitlement, Bush has taken a giant crap on all those idealistic College Republicans who stayed up into the wee hours of the morning praying that he would prevail over Al Gore.

Many of those kids who campaigned for Bush were harassed and humiliated by their professors and peers for their beliefs. But these kids never wavered, for they believed in the righteousness of their cause.

Now Bush has sold them out so he can get a few votes from a bunch of self-entitled old geezers in Florida. Bush lied (yes, lied) that his bill would "only" cost $400 billion. As it turns out, his bill, now law, is going to cost $600 billion - all to buy votes from stingy people who can afford these drugs on their own.

With the federal deficit now at $400 billion, it will take a generation or more to undo the damage Bush has wrought.

[Antoninus]

The budget for fiscal 2005, which he will release Monday. will project the price tag of the Medicare measure at $534 billion over the decade ending in 2013. That is up substantially from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office's $395 billion estimate that Bush and congressional leaders cited when winning votes to push the bill through Congress in November.

It'll easily be over $1 trillion by the time all is said and done. Watch for the payroll tax to go up. Sigh.

Dear Washington, knock off all the entitlement BS, will you!

Signed,

I. Rate Taxpayer

[Ahban]

The Constitution Party's leading Presidential Candidate....


http://www.peroutka2004.com/home.html