Reforming Medicare, the Gingrich way

[Khephra]

Newt Gingrich is back. The fiery architect of the Republicans' Contract with America, who was forced to resign as House Speaker in 1999 after his attacks on Bill Clinton cost the G.O.P. big losses in the midterm elections, has been steadily increasing his backstage role in national politics.

Nowhere was his presence more on display than in the Medicare-reform bill Congress passed last week. Beginning a year ago, Gingrich gave PowerPoint briefings to top Republican officials like Vice President Dick Cheney, House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Senate majority leader Bill Frist on market reforms for Medicare.

Late in October, Gingrich worked with AARP to circulate a compromise proposal on Capitol Hill, much like the one eventually passed, for Medicare to compete with private insurance plans in a test program. Gingrich has his own health-care think tank and has advised AARP on technological innovations, such as websites for seniors to shop for the cheapest drugs as they can do for airline tickets.

G.O.P. congressional leaders, who still consider Newt politically radioactive, will say little publicly about his role in the Medicare bill. Gingrich too is circumspect, describing himself only as "a change agent. If they want my ideas, I'm happy to show up and give them."

more...........

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/12/01/timep.gingrich.tm/

[54anickel]

1. Great. Bet he's in on the SS changes as well.

[sendero]

2. You mean..

...>>>Speaker in 1999 after his attacks on Bill Clinton cost the G.O.P. big losses in the midterm elections

You mean forced to resign when it was found that he was porking yet another white house staffer while decrying the lack of Clinton's morality.


There is no better proof that there is no "liberal media" than the fact that most people have no freaking clue why he was forced out.

[Erika]

3. Funny Memories

Yeah, they were holding impeachment hearings for Clinton, and Newt and Livingston ran off with their tales? between their legs for their life-long womanizing.