Medicare overhaul estimate skyrockets

[question everything]

ASSOCIATED PRESS and NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE

January 30, 2004


WASHINGTON – President Bush's new budget projects the Medicare overhaul he signed last month will cost at least $530 billion over 10 years, one-third more than the price tag used when Congress passed the legislation.

(snip)

While muscling the Medicare package through Congress in November, Bush and Republican leaders won pivotal votes by reassuring conservatives that the cost over that period would track the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office's estimate of $395 billion. The measure passed both chambers narrowly, giving the president one of his top legislative triumphs.

The new figures represent the first time the White House has released its projections of the bill's costs. The soaring estimate could deepen an election-year wedge between the White House and conservative Republicans upset over spending and budget deficits that they say have grown too high on Bush's watch.

The numbers raise questions about whether administration officials revealed everything they knew before the vote on Medicare, some conservatives complained privately. Bush signed the bill Dec. 8.

(snip)

The White House is reluctant to antagonize conservatives in an election year. Such internal party divisions could make it harder to push legislation through Congress, which Republicans control by narrow margins.

(snip)


Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/uniontrib/fri/news/news_1n30budget.html

[lovedems]

1. Ouch! That is one costly overhaul!

Well, the irony is, the WH isn't just lying to the people, they are lying to their own party now. That is going to anger alot of conservatives who probably felt strong-armed into voting for it. This is going to be an interesting legislative year with all these conservatives mad at the chimp.

[jean]

2. they didn't release figures on Medicare or on the Iraq invasion

and managed to push their agenda through.

It's the "hear me now believe me later" crowd.

During the NH primary, GHWB was asked what he thought about the Dem candidates, and he said (something like) I don't know about them, all I know is they're beating the heck out of my son and I don't like it one bit.

His boy needs to be knocked toothless.

Howard Dean's, "You can't trust the right wing with your money" is a good start and may be too mild.

[GOPisEvil]

3. So they lie in domestic policy, too.

At least they're consistent. :eyes:

[DemNoir]

4. This is only the beginning of the cost increase

Since they have prohibited the government from doing anything about drug costs, it has nowhere to go but up.