Sunday, February 13, 2005
Tallying the Cost
Interesting to read yesterday that it looks like the new prescription drug plan is going to be some $200 billion or so over budget. That's $200 billion over the $524 billion that was upped from $400 billion shortly after the bill was passed. The "don't tax but spend" Republicans are once again displaying an alarming loose grasp on fiscal reality.
Let's make one thing clear -- the drug benefit isn't Bush's gift to the elderly or the Republicans beneficience to our seniors. It is the generosity of the American taxpayers to each other. I have nothing against a drug benefit plan. We must get medical costs for all Americans under control. But it must be done in a fiscally responsible way. Make the government negotiate with the drug companies, don't prohibit it. Open competition to allow foreign drug makers to legally (and safely) import their products into the U.S. Both of these things would help drive down costs.
But Bush is instead casting himself as the defender of the benefits to the elderly saying that the law should not be revisited. Horseshit, George. Get your lips off the fat ass of the pharmaceutical industry for a minute and own up to having hoodwinked the Congress when this thing was first passed.
Readers may remember that a senior Medicare analyst was booted for leaking cost estimates that were higher than what the Administration wanted to see. Now we can all see how blatant the deception was. And people wonder why I question Administration claims about Social Security reform.
It is refreshing to see Trent Lott and other Republicans joining Democrats in outrage over the growth of this program before it has even begun. It is time to reopen the Medicare drug benefit to make sure that it delivers a fair benefit to people truly in need at a price that we can afford.
Tomorrow's Valentine's Day. I think I'll send W a big red caluclator SWAK.
Let's make one thing clear -- the drug benefit isn't Bush's gift to the elderly or the Republicans beneficience to our seniors. It is the generosity of the American taxpayers to each other. I have nothing against a drug benefit plan. We must get medical costs for all Americans under control. But it must be done in a fiscally responsible way. Make the government negotiate with the drug companies, don't prohibit it. Open competition to allow foreign drug makers to legally (and safely) import their products into the U.S. Both of these things would help drive down costs.
But Bush is instead casting himself as the defender of the benefits to the elderly saying that the law should not be revisited. Horseshit, George. Get your lips off the fat ass of the pharmaceutical industry for a minute and own up to having hoodwinked the Congress when this thing was first passed.
Readers may remember that a senior Medicare analyst was booted for leaking cost estimates that were higher than what the Administration wanted to see. Now we can all see how blatant the deception was. And people wonder why I question Administration claims about Social Security reform.
It is refreshing to see Trent Lott and other Republicans joining Democrats in outrage over the growth of this program before it has even begun. It is time to reopen the Medicare drug benefit to make sure that it delivers a fair benefit to people truly in need at a price that we can afford.
Tomorrow's Valentine's Day. I think I'll send W a big red caluclator SWAK.
