Medicare Portrayal Tailored by Parties - Seniors' Support Is Key

[cthrumatrix]

Medicare Portrayal Tailored by Parties
In Election Year, Seniors' Support Is Key
By Amy Goldstein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, January 11, 2004; Page A06



snip

"It is very different when each party is trying to take a victory lap than when you have one party throwing a lot of mud on the victors as they run around the track," said Norman Ornstein, congressional scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

Approved by Congress in late November, the Medicare law will produce the largest expansion in the history of the program, which provides health insurance to about 40 million seniors and disabled Americans. Starting in 2006, the government will subsidize drug coverage for any Medicare patient who wants it. The law also contains steps intended to expand the role of private health plans in caring for senior citizens. During the bill's long, heated debate, the parties were polarized over whether the private-sector orientation is a good idea and whether the government will give older Americans enough help in paying for medicine.

Proponents and critics of the law seek to portray their plans as neutral efforts to educate Medicare patients and health care professionals about the way the 678-page law will change the program. But it is clear that the public education is laced with ideology and politics.

Ron Pollack, Families USA's executive director, said its film with Cronkite -- which his group wants to distribute to nearly every senior center in the country -- and its impending road show are "not intended to be a diatribe. . . . We are going to . . . explain to people what is in the legislation and how it will affect them." Still, Pollack said, "We have little doubt how people react to this stuff. . . . It will create a groundswell of people saying, 'This needs to be changed.' "

snip

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6788-2004Jan10.html

Repugs want credit....I say "give it to them"...this bill is gift to corporation and pharma companies and screws seniors. I guess the fact that 70% of seniors disapproved of the bill after "learning about the content"...doesn't mean anything to shrub.

[Racenut20]

1. What I wanted to ask ?????

Attending a dinner Thursday nite with Congressman Jim Davis of Tampa as the keynote speaker...He states his intention to introduce legislation in January to allow the Government to negotiate drug prices with the drug companies... Didn't get the chance to ask the question so am going through the mails/etc to contact him.

"Congressman, if the bill is so bad as you indicate, why did you vote for it? It only carried by your vote."

[cthrumatrix]

2. I would love to see his response...they are scrambling now because they

know that the people can read the subsidies to corporations and others...all with out tax dollars...they screwed us.

And if not for Canada setting an example...they would continue to snow us.

We can buy goods/food from ANYWHERE in this world. BUT we cannot buy drugs from Canada.

Easy answer for Mr Davis...your fired.

[Racenut20]

3. Canadian drugs

Jebbie says he is not going to allow the planned setup in St. Petersburg to sell Canadian drugs. Canadian drugs...hmmmmm. Those that are manufactured off shore to avoid US taxes, shipped to Canada at 1/4 the price they are brought to Florida. And Fl having a law that does not allow Doctors to prescribe a generic drug if a regular is available...Dam*, I may as well move back to California and put up with "the idiot".

[Gman]

4. Give them credit--- wrap it around their necks

Give the GOP all the credit they want and educate the hell out of people on what they've done to us.