Bush on medicare

01/31/2006

Mark Frederickson

Disturbing word out of the Senate this morning re: the 58-42 vote confirming Judge Alito.  I fear the consequences of this nomination will be drastic and that we will see a monumental roll back of personal rights and civil liberty protections in our nation.  Truly a sad day. But it is surely a time to step up our fight and make sure people hear that there is an alternative to this Republican back slide.  A place to start will be with strong responses to Bush & Co.’s speech to Congress and the nation tonight. On the bright side we see below that the president still hasn’t found a way to articulate his “vision” for the country. mark frederickson, rochester

In case you wondered about the new medicare prescription program, here is an explanation from the president himself.

President Bush Explains Medicare Drug Bill—Verbatim Quote

WOMAN IN AUDIENCE: ‘I don’t really understand. How is it the new plan is going to fix the problem?’

Verbatim response from PRESIDENT BUSH:

“Because the—all which is on the table begins to address the big cost drivers. For example, how benefits are calculated, for example, is on the table. Whether or not benefits rise based upon wage increases or price increases. There’s a series of parts of the formula that are being considered. And when you couple that, those different cost drivers, affecting those—changing those with personal accounts, the idea is to get what has been promised more likely to be—or closer delivered to that has been promised. Does that make any sense to you? It’s kind of muddled. Look, there’s a series of things that cause the—like, for example, benefits are calculated based upon the increase of wages, as opposed to the increase of prices. Some have suggested that we calculate - the benefits will rise based upon inflation, supposed to wage increases. There is a reform that would help solve the red if that were put into effect. In other words, how fast benefits grow, how fast the promised benefits grow, if those—if that growth is affected, it will help on the red.”