*s threatened veto of modifications to the Prescription Drug Bill

[Skidmore]

yesterday is something I think needs to be jumped on fast and hammered away at. Is there any group addressing this yet?

[rzemanfl]

1. I was wondering when someone would bring this up. This is

typical BushCo, lied to you, you bought it and now you're screwed. Everytime I try to make a suggestion regarding my true thoughts about our "President" the moderator deletes my message, so let's just say I hope he chokes on a pretzel.

The Repugs need to look at history and see what happened when the rich got too greedy at the expense of the poor. Even with religious backing they didn't fare well over the long term.

[ClintonTyree]

4. Hey, if Social Security needs to be "overhauled" because.........

it's too expensive and "broken", then Bush's farce of a prescription drug bill should be as well. Of course this was bush's baby (which should have been aborted) and bush DOESN'T make mistakes, so no tinkering is needed. Vain jackass. Yes, Congressmen and Senators are making a lot of noise about it, but as yet I don't think there's any organized opposition.

There'd better be, and soon. This POS give away to the pharmaceutical companies costs far outstrip it's benefits to the people.

[radfringe]

2. bush* "threatens" veto

but has never exercised it...

Bush vows to veto drug plan cuts
LAWMAKERS RILED AS MEDICARE COST ESTIMATE BALLOONS
By William Douglas
KNIGHT RIDDER WASHINGTON BUREAU -- Sat, Feb. 12, 2005
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/news/nation/10882760.htm

WASHINGTON - President Bush vowed yesterday to veto any changes Congress attempts to make in the Medicare prescription drug benefit to become available next year.

His threat sets up a showdown between the president and lawmakers who've watched the benefit's projected 10-year cost explode from $400 billion -- the cost Bush told them when many agreed to it in late 2003 -- to $724 billion, the new estimate the administration made public this week.

"I signed Medicare reform proudly, and any attempt to limit the choices of our seniors to take away their prescription-drug coverage under Medicare will meet my veto," Bush said at a swearing-in ceremony for new Health and Human Services Secretary Mike O. Leavitt.

Since becoming president, Bush has never exercised his veto. Ironically, House Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle, R-Iowa, suggested to Office of Management and Budget Director Josh Bolten this week that the president may have to use his veto power to make Congress hold the line on spending.

-----------

Bush threatens to veto limits on Medicare drug plan
By JAMES ROSEN -- McClatchy Newspapers
February 11, 2005
http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=BUSH-VETO-02-11-05&cat=AN

emphasis added by me

WASHINGTON - President Bush issued a rare veto threat Friday as he vowed to any block legislative attempt to shrink the prescription-drug benefit in Medicare changes set to take effect next year.

----snip---

Bush said Friday the changes to Medicare would decrease health-care costs by covering preventive medicine such as heart and diabetes screenings, and by paying for medicines that will prevent the need for surgery in many cases.

"Under the old system, Medicare would pay $28,000 for ulcer surgery, but not the $500 a year for the prescription drugs that eliminated the cause of most ulcers," he said. "That system didn't make sense . . . for our seniors. It made no sense for American taxpayers."

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Bush's veto threat was aimed primarily at Democratic lawmakers he accused of trying "to undermine the reforms that we put in place."

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[Skidmore]

3. I realize his word is no good but one thing he is consistent about

is that if he can find a way to screw the poor nine ways till Friday he will. We need to apply pressure to congress anyway--and lots of it.

[Moderator]

6. radfringe

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
copyrighted news source.


Thank you.

DU Moderator

[blondeatlast]

5. DU now has a Legislative Forum, it would be great if you'd also post

this there:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=308

Skinner set it up yesterday, and the whole idea is so that we can keep on top of new proposed legislation.

I'm ready to write letters, make calls, whatever on important legislation, so I'm really happy the forum exists.

[dansolo]

7. Call his bluff

The Democrats have let Bush get away with not having to veto a single bill.