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Thanks for the ping, Kristinn and thanks for the post, GOP.
I am glad I had the rare opportunity to be here for this.

In 2005 the estimated cost to taxpayers was $926 billion.
By 2006 it had dropped to $797 billion.
In 2008 the cost had dropped 12% to $44 billion at the end of the fiscal year.

2-9-05 — Medicare drug benefit to cost $720 billion over 10 years
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-02-09-medicare-drugs_x.htm

5-06 — Medicare drug benefit viewed as a work in progress
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-15426944_ITM
The cost of the drug benefit has declined from a projected $737 billion over 10 years to $675 billion. Projected cost for 2006 will be $30.5 billion, 20% less than the $38.1 billion originally estimated.

5-8-06 — Online discussion of the drug benefit
Scroll down to Dunn Loring, VA
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/05/08/DI2006050801215.html

11-08 — Medicare Drug Plan Spending Drops $6B in 2008
http://www.agingcare.com/News/133484/Medicare-Drug-Plan-Spending-Drops-6B-in-2008.htm
…spending dropped by 12% to $44 B in fiscal year ending 9-30-08