February 11, 2005

SMACKDOWN:

Bush threatens to veto Medicare changes (JENNIFER LOVEN, February 11, 2005, Associated Press)

President Bush on Friday threatened to veto any changes Congress tries to make to Medicare's new prescription drug benefit, which takes effect in January 2006.

"I signed Medicare reform proudly and any attempt to limit the choices of our seniors and to take away their prescription drug coverage under Medicare will meet my veto," Bush said at a swearing-in ceremony for Mike O. Leavitt, the new secretary of health and human services.


Some Republicans have somehow gotten it into their heads that the President's lameduck status means he needs them more then they need him. They're in for a rude awakening.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 11, 2005 4:17 PM
Comments

But how does this square with the reports the past few days the the cost of the prescription drug benefit are skyrockeing and is double/triple what the Bush admin said it was going to be?

Posted by: AWW at February 11, 2005 4:27 PM

Smackdown, or spine transplant? W does not do wobble.

Posted by: Luciferous at February 11, 2005 4:39 PM

AWW:

We have plenty of money. Health care costs will be brought under control, if at all, by the HSAs in the reform, making them universal and mandatory, not by tinkering around the edges of the drug program.

Posted by: oj at February 11, 2005 4:49 PM

The medicare drug bill was a disgrace. Congress should cut it back so that the costs are $400 billion over 10 years, no more, no less.

Posted by: Dan at February 11, 2005 4:50 PM

Dan:

Americans want to spend more, not less.

Posted by: oj at February 11, 2005 4:55 PM

OJ:

Yeah, spend more of somebody else's money. As for your comment about GOP Congressmen needing Bush more than he needs them, I'm not so sure. My Congressman (Jimmy Duncan) was there before Bush and will be there after Bush. I hope there are enough others like him to cut back this pills for old people abomination.

Posted by: Dan at February 11, 2005 9:04 PM

Dan:

It's the people's money and they wanted pills, so they got them. Your congressman can't get a piece of legislation through without W's blessing, not vice versa.

Posted by: oj at February 11, 2005 9:50 PM

"lame duck status"

Even with four years to go?

Posted by: Bartman at February 12, 2005 8:34 AM
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