Reply #29: Not only that...

[Nicholas_J]

One must look at what Dean DID as governor when it came to health programs to the elderly and disabled.

In 2002 he sent a budget to the legislature recommending cutting virtually ALL health programs for these people.

There were two philosophie on how to do this. The Democratic party, even thouse who had supported Dean as governor, recommeded an increase in the income tax on the welathiest in the state. Dean rejected this stating that the highest bracket was already too high.

Dean and the Republican Senate backed cutting service, and making patients pay higher amounts for the services, whole resisting attempt after attempt to get deep discounts from pharmaceutical companies for prescription drugs. As Senator Pete Shumlin said:

I’ve become convinced that we have a philosophical difference between the governor, the Republican House and this Senate,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin, D-Windham.

“The governor and the Republican House want to balance this budget on the backs of our most vulnerable Vermonters. The Senate wants to balance this budget on the backs of the pharmaceutical companies who are charging too much for drugs.”

http://timesargus.com/Legislature/Story/46513.html

Small wonder Dean opposed getting discounts fron the drug companies. Pharmaceutical companies bankrolled his campaigns. They provided more money alone than Deans opposition could raise entirely for their campaigns in Vermont.