NYT: Bush Vows Veto of Any Cutback in Drug Benefit

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 - President Bush threatened on Friday to veto any bill that scales back Medicare's prescription drug benefit, which becomes available in January 2006 to millions of elderly and disabled people.

New estimates showing that the benefit will cost $724 billion over a decade have touched off a furor in Congress, where lawmakers originally believed that it would cost much less. Many members of Congress say they want to revisit the Medicare law this year. Conservatives seek cutbacks in benefits and cost controls. Liberals and some centrists want to require the government to negotiate prices with drug manufacturers.

But on Friday, Mr. Bush said, "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."

White House officials made clear that Mr. Bush would resist any fundamental change in the law, which he described Friday as "a landmark achievement."

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/12/politics/12bush.html?

[alcuno]

1. Of all the things to threaten with a veto, THAT'S what he picks?

What about that outrageous pork barrel supplemental they passed back in December? What a disgrace!

[leesa]

2. Because it's one of his fake items 'for the people'...even though

all of us, including those who voted for it in Congress, knew he had lied about the cost AND knew it was bad for MediCare recipients. Their fake outrage is just more playacting.

[Lorien]

3. The real benefactor is Big Pharma n/t

[Ms. Clio]

6. Yes--real headline should be, "Bush Reassures his Big Pharma Buds

"Any attempt to limit the <profits> of our <big campaign contributors>and to take away their <bloodsucking gorgefest> under Medicare will meet my veto."

[TahitiNut]

7. That's exactly right. It's a "poison pill" for Medicare.

There's no low price guarantee, no bulk purchases, nothing whatsoever to put any lid of any kind on the overpriced drugs. It'll sink Medicare like a corpse wearing cement shoes.

In the meantime, the pharmaceutical industry wallows in revenues.

[Melodybe]

4. How much do you hate the NYT for totally whoring that title

Puke, I hate the way that they use Orwell in every bill they come up with.

[Scooter24]

5. Well

Mr. Bush..You should have provided us with the correct numbers from the start.

If Congress had any sense, they would vote to strike this bill down, let Bush veto it, then vote to overturn his veto.

Then write a bill that provides a drug benefit with accurate numbers. Congress forgets that they have the power to cirumvent the president's signature. This is one of those times where that practice should be used.

[depakid]

8. Of course, this is all positioned

to make Bush look like a "hero" and to allow the so called "conservatives" to look like they're fiscally responsible.

And it'll work nicely, because the whores will play along- and won't DARE give any thoughtful or honest analysis.

Gotta hand it to the far right- the do know how to play the game effectively...