Bush: 'Time is now' for Medicare bill
Democrats balk at emerging drug benefit compromise
By William L. Watts, CBS.MarketWatch.com
Last Update: 5:09 PM ET Nov. 13, 2003
WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- Congressional Democrats sharply criticized an emerging House-Senate Medicare compromise crafted largely by Republicans, further clouding prospects Thursday for adding a $400 billion drug benefit to the popular entitlement program.
"The proposals that have been recommended by the leadership in the House and the Republican leadership
would effectively undermine the Medicare system which our seniors depend on. And that is unacceptable. That is unacceptable," said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
Republicans contend they've given significant ground in efforts to craft a compromise that would clear both the House and Senate by scaling back a House-passed provision, known as "premium support," that would have required Medicare to face direct competition from private health plans in 2010.
President Bush and top administration officials engaged in a multi-pronged public-relations blitz designed to pressure lawmakers to finish work on the bill, which could carry big stakes heading into next year's elections.
"We've debated long enough. The time is now for action," Bush said in a speech in Orlando, Fla.
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Most congressional Democrats have objected to premium support proposals, arguing that the measures would result in the de facto privatization of the Medicare system. The healthiest seniors would be siphoned off to private plans while remaining seniors would face higher premiums as part of the traditional Medicare program.
"We are always hoping that a better idea will prevail. But from what we have seen in the press, I think there are very serious concerns, and I would encourage Democrats not to be accomplices to this cruel hoax on America's seniors that will unravel Medicare, which is the point, after all, for the Republicans," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
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