Kerry Criticizes Dean's '02 Gambit

[pruner]

By Ceci Connolly
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 12, 2003; Page A04

In poker, it's called a bluff -- or at least that is the way Howard Dean and some neutral observers characterized his threats in early 2002 to kill a prescription drug program for 3,000 senior citizens.

<snip>

But Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry's opposition research team has a different interpretation. During a televised Democratic presidential candidates debate in Phoenix late Thursday, CNN moderator Judy Woodruff told Dean that Kerry's campaign aides were distributing a flier that accused him of trying to "kick Vermont seniors off their prescription drug plan."

<snip>

So who is right? Both, of course.

<snip>

Several Vermont newspapers said at the time that Dean's intentions were obvious.

"Dean's proposal puts pressure on lawmakers to increase the cigarette tax," wrote the Burlington Free Press, describing the move as the "opening gambit in what will be a fierce chess match between the governor and the Legislature."

But others pointed out that if the legislature adopted his 2002 budget as submitted, the program would have died.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13367-2003Oct11.html

[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. I've played poker. Much as you'd like to, you don't ALWAYS win

and then whatever it is that you've bet, you lose. So you only bet what you are willing to give up.

[cindyw]

2. I cannot imagine that this would work in Washington

The Republicans would be so excited to block a tax increase and cut Medicare they would throw up on themselves to pass it on the spot.

[La_Serpiente]

3. Kerry ought to shut up

After that low blow in Arizona, he sacrificed his principles for the sake of winning the election. He didn't want to seem soft on National Security, so he voted for the war.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

4. that will help advance the debate - eveyone shut up but your candidate

[Carolina]

13. Kerry's going

DOWN, so he's resorting to sleaze. Between his failure to connect with people and his stealth slime against Dean, he won't last through the primary season. Clark, Dean & Edwards will garner assorted primary victories and a candidate won't be decided until the convention, keeping Rove and Bush off balance (I hope). But Kerry's going nowhere fast.

[dd123]

10. I bet Kerry wouldn't have had the guts to try this.

This actually shows a difference in potential governing style.

To me, this says that Kerry is going to be walked all over.

Dean will be much more skillful in getting what he wants. That is why I support Dean.

Go Dean!

[clar]

14. Dean knew he'd win

So did most Vermonters. I'm not saying I like this tactic, but having watched Dean for the 11 years that he was Governor, I will say that he was pretty canny at sizing up his opponents. It's not like republicans in the Vt legislature are like republicans in the Texas legislature. He knew how to place pressure on these folks.

[Eloriel]

17. And then there are times when you bluff

with people you are about 99% sure will cave. (See: Bush Administration and U.S. Congressional Dems, for example.)

Eloriel

[xray s]

5. I think Dean wins this one

And Kerry looks bad.

Dean's showdown with the Republicans in VT reminds me of Clinton's showdown with Gingrich that shut down the country until Gingrich finally caved. Shows some guts to take them on all the way and let the public decide who is on their side.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. Bad analogy

Clinton didn't 'dare' the Republicans to cut Medicare like Dean 'dared' the Republicans to cut VSCRIPT. Quite the opposite. And I think cindyw is right, a similar bluff in Washington would be called.

[maggrwaggr]

7. Kerry's just looking like a sleazebag here

this will backfire on him, if it hasn't already

My opinion: we can bicker all we want, but the Dem candidates themselves should avoid criticizing one another. It's just bad.

[wtmusic]

8. Anything to take the heat off that war vote...

[Khephra]

12. No doubt

Kerry supporters will be here in a minute saying that his war vote REALLY wasn't a vote to give Bush a blank check to go to war...

(something that the Senate Watchers and Senator Byrd will object to as being a false spin on the vote)

...but if it wasn't then it was at the very least a GAMBLE to force Bush into going to the UN (almost a direct quote from a few Kerry supporters).

All politicians gamble with their votes. Some win, some lose. Dean won on this one and in being against the Iraq war. Kerry seems to just keep losing each and every one of his bets over the past two years.

I'm not putting my money on a losing horse, that's for sure.

[Rose Siding]

16. Good catch

And Dean's "gamble" was with a citizen legislature that he'd worked with for years. Kerry cast his lot with Dubya.

[dd123]

9. I like this move. It shows that Dean is a hard ass.

In poker, before you bluff, you must know your opponent. Dean understood his opponent and he got what he wanted.

Yes, this gambit might not work against the current Republican legislature. That is why the pressure he would use against Republicans would probably be different.

Governing is knowing how to get things through. Dean has done it. The rest haven't.

[JackSwift]

11. The ones that attack Bush

impress me. The ones that attack Democrats won't get my support. I'm tired of pink tutu democrats.

[LizW]

15. Pathetic

Kerry's got to come up with some new material or he's toast.

Dean's action was a classic political bluff. He said he did it because he knew the Vermont legislature would raise the cigarette tax, and they did. It shows he can be tough when he has to. It's one of the things that shows me he is qualified to be President.

He has the experience to know when he can bluff, and also to know when to call the bluffs of others.

[Rose Siding]

18. He explained it to VMS and solicited their involvement

From the VMS website: (January 2002.)

VERMONT MEDICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL CONVERSATION WITH THE GOVERNOR

Braving the first snowstorm of the winter, ten physicians from across Vermont met with Governor Howard Dean on December 17 to discuss current Vermont health care issues. Tim Thompson, MD, President-Elect of the Medical Society, opened the meeting by thanking Governor Dean for his administration’s health care accomplishments. Dr. Thompson led the meeting on behalf of VMS President Carolyn-Taylor-Olson, MD, who was unable to travel due to illness. Dr. Thompson relayed her sentiment that, given the precarious financial state of many private physician practices, the Governor’s support for increased Medicaid reimbursement to physicians is very much appreciated


MEDICAID BUDGET

Governor Dean discussed his health care priorities for the coming session with the group. First on the list was addressing the revenue shortfall and its impact on the FY 2003 Medicaid budget. The Governor strongly supports a tobacco tax increase, and last year proposed a 67-cent increase to the legislature. He will not incorporate such a proposal into his ’03 budget. Instead, the administration will propose a number of cuts in medical and prescription drug benefits, with the understanding that if the legislature chooses to avoid those cuts through an increased tobacco tax, the Governor will be supportive. Dean noted the strain placed on the Medicaid budget by increasing prescription drug expenditures, and said that although he has resisted formularies for years, it is no longer possible for Vermont to control these costs without a preferred drug list.

David Johnson, MD, an anesthesiologist from Shelburne and Chair of the VMS Physician Policy Council, asked about Federal law regarding Medicaid copayments. He wondered to what extent Vermont could impose more significant copayments for expensive benefits, including brand name prescription drugs. Dean said that Human Services Secretary Jane Kitchel is investigating Vermont’s cost-sharing options. He observed that collecting copayments is burdensome for physician practices, and said that his administration will look first to other cost-sharing measures, such as coinsurance.

(snip)

MEDICAID AND MEDICARE RATES

Dr. Thompson brought up physicians’ concerns over a potential 5.4% Medicare rate cut nationally. He explained that Vermont physicians were in a particularly vulnerable position because low Medicaid rates and large Medicaid caseloads impeded their ability to make up for a Medicare cut.

The Governor said that, while health care costs did indeed need to be controlled, it would be unfair for public payers to “beat up on” physicians through fee reductions. He noted that the tests physicians order and the drugs they prescribe are more important cost drivers than physician fees. Dean said it was more appropriate to target these expenditures for cost control, to use the patient’s pocketbook to educate the physician about cost-effective diagnostic testing and prescribing. He reaffirmed his commitment to increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates for physicians to the Medicare level, but stated that a funding source such as the tobacco tax would be needed to achieve this goal.

(snip)

TOBACCO TAX INCREASE

Drs. O’Brien and Johnson asked about the revenues raised from the cigarette tax increase. Peter Van Vranken, health policy advisor to the Governor, said a tax increase would raise approximately $500,000 per year per cent increase, with some reduction in revenue over time as smoking rates fall. Governor Dean said he hoped that the cuts his administration proposes in prescription drug benefits for seniors will spur broader interest in the tax increase. He stressed that Medical Society input on this issue could have a significant impact.

Ms. Mongan explained that VMS is putting a lot of energy behind the tobacco tax increase for the coming session. VMS is working both independently and as a member of the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Vermont. Conversations between physician constituents and members of the House Ways and Means Committee, Health and Welfare Committee, and majority leadership are already underway on this issue. Dean thanked the Medical Society for its active involvement.