House passes Republican prescription drug plan

On June 28, by a vote of 221 to 208, the House passed the GOP-sponsored Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act of 2002 (HR 4954), which would allow Medicare recipients to use private Insurers for their prescription drug needs beginning In 2005. The bill would cost $350 billion over 10 years. Patients would pay a monthly $33 premium, then, after a $250 deductible, 20% of their drug costs up to $1,000, 50% of the next $1,000 and all drug costs from $2,001 to $3,700. Above that, Medicare would pay all drug costs.

Just before this vote, the House defeated, 204 to 223, a far more costly-S800 billion-Democratic alternative with a lower premium and lower deductible that would have covered all drug costs above $2,000.

This Republican plan "seeks to Improve the Medicare program by Introducing free market forces In order to bring down drug prices and medical costs overall by introducing competition to a program that currently has none," said Rep. John Linder (R.-Ga.).

Opponents of the GOP proposal, with its use of private insurers to administer the plan, went so far as to challenge the free market across the board, virtually repudiating capitalism. "My constituents and others around the nation are reeling from public programs that have been turned over to the so-called free market," said Rep. Louise Slaughter (D.-N.Y.). "Utility rates, cable rates, you name it, the free market has ensured exorbitant prices with diminished service."

Reform opponents accused Republicans of everything short of slitting their grandmothers' throats-simply because GOP members rejected a huge price-controlled statist prescription plan. "I express my opposition to this bill that does not allow senior women to be able to afford to live, particularly those senior women who suffer from cardiovascular disease," said Rep. Julia Carson (D.-Ind.)."I have seen much in my lifetime, but nothing like the blatant disregard for America's seniors by House Republican Leadership," said Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D.-N.Y.).

"I rise against this shameful GOP prescription drug so-called benefit that is very much against my grandmother and all of the grandmothers in this country," said Rep. Corrine Brown (D.-Fla.).

Rep. Hilda Solis (D.-Calif.), evidently feeling the need to ensure that her scare tactics were compre hensible to as many people as possible, said in Spanish, "Mr. Speaker, for all of the old women who can hear me loud and clear, this is another tactic for the Republicans to take away your medication."

Not to be outdone, Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D.-Ohio) said, "I express my strong opposition to this pitiful bill that denies senior women across America access to affordable prescription drugs because the Republicans gave all the money away to companies like Enron in tax cuts, and they were not deserved."

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D.-N.Y.) showed his poetic side, calling the reform bill "a pitiful, pathetic, puny, pretend plan

A "yes" vote was a vote In favor of the Republican drug prescription plan, which would use the private sector to help administer the program. A "no" vote was, in effect, a vote against this Medicare reform.

Copyright Human Events Publishing, Inc. Jul 15, 2002
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