I'm from NJ & Lautenberg is a fill in for Torrecelli who resigned under
scandal. He is a multi millionaire & doesn't need SS as do many other
millionaires. Corzine is another multi multi millionaire who if he ever took
SS would call it chump change.
I'm a retired AARP member and I'll take whatever the government gives in the
way of medicine benefits. The Dems have had plenty of tim e to do something
aside from blaming the Republicans and it's now sour grapes. Ted Kennedy is
still trying to master swimming lessons.
Dan
"Don Stevens" > wrote in message
...
> You answered the question in your first sentence!
> That the Democrates have worked for "YEARS" for a RX bill.
>
> If it takes that long to come up with a bill then they are real dumb!!!
Plus
> they can't even agree among themselves on a 'good' Bill
>
> A bird in hand is worth two in the bush!!!!!!
> don
>
>
> "Peanutjake" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I receved this email from a friend in New Jersey
> > PJ
> > -----------------------------------------------------
> > For years, Democratic lawmakers have been working to make sure that
> > seniors have access to prescription drugs and reasonable healthcare.
> > Now, in an attempt to score political points, the Republican
> > Congressional leadership is pushing through a bill that appears to
> > offer a solution. Actually, the bill undermines the entire Medicare
> > program, pushing people into the very HMOs which contribute heavily to
> > Republican lawmakers and barring the government from negotiating for
> > lower drug prices.
> >
> > Given the danger to seniors, one might expect that the millions-strong
> > American Association of Retired People (AARP) to be on the case.
> > But after huge contributions from pharmaceutical companies and HMOs,
> > and pressure from Republican lawmakers, the AARP is selling out its
> > membership and backing the bill.
> >
> > In response, 85 members of Congress (so far) have canceled their AARP
> > memberships, or announced that they will never join (if they're not
> > yet old enough to be eligible). [1] Today, we urge you to do the
> > same. If the AARP won't stand up for the elderly when it comes to
> > health care, what good is it? You can reach the AARP at:
> >
> > NJ Branch: 609-987-0744
> > National hotline: 1-800-424-3410
> >
> > If you're a member, tell them you're quitting.
> >
> > If you're too young to be eligible, tell them you'll never join.
> >
> > You also may want to let your Representative and Senators know that
> > you're keeping the AARP accountable. You could also tell them
> > that you expect them to demand real health care reform -- not this
> > industry-backed bill.
> >
> > You can reach your members of Congress at:
> >
> > Representative Donald M. Payne
> > DC Phone: 202-225-3436
> >
> > Senator Frank Lautenberg
> > DC Phone: 202-224-3224
> >
> > Senator Jon S. Corzine
> > DC Phone: 202-224-4744
> >
> >
> > Please let us know how you feel about this -- we're collecting
> > individual comments to share with the media, at:
> >
> > http://moveon.org/aarp.html?id=2136-....APKD4NthfLzuw
> >
> > The AARP has endorsed a bill that would make two fundamental changes
> > in Medica
> >
> > 1. First, it would force people to make a stark choice: either pay
> > sharply increased premiums to stay in traditional Medicare, where
> > they can choose their doctor; or be forced out, into an HMO.
> >
> > Newt Gingrich, the former House Republican leader, said in 1995
> > that he wanted to let Medicare to "wither on the vine." This
> > change would lead to that result, with cost incentives driving
> > people out. (Not coincidentally, AARP CEO William Novelli
> > recently wrote the forward to Gingrich's book. [2])
> >
> > 2. Second, it offers a prescription drug benefit, but requires people
> > who want this coverage to buy it from private insurance plans.
> >
> > This part of the bill also bars the government from doing the one
> > thing it could do to actually reduce the cost of these drugs --
> > negotiate for lower prices, using the size of the Medicare program
> > as leverage. Drug prices are soaring now, and unless they're
> > brought under control, they will eventually bankrupt Medicare.
> >
> > AARP itself sells insurance and also sells prescription drugs, so
> > the group stands to reap huge financial gains from this change.
> >
> > The bill has been opposed by a host of liberal groups [3] as well as
> > by major conservative groups, including the Club for Growth, The
> > Heritage Foundation, the American Conservative Union, The Cato
> > Institute, and the National Taxpayers Union. It's also been assailed
> > by virtually every one of the Democratic presidential candidates. [4]
> >
> > In endorsing this bill, the AARP has broken faith with its members. In
> > a recent poll, 65% of AARP members said they're opposed to it. [5]
> > The group has also violated its own written principles. In July, CEO
> > William Novelli wrote to Congress stating the requirements for AARP's
> > support of a Medicare bill. [6] Yet the bill AARP has just endorsed
> > fails to meet nine separate requirements stated in that letter. [7]
> >
> > We need to hold the AARP responsible for selling out its members. If
> > the organization sees sufficient backlash from its members and
> > prospective members, it could still change course and effect the
> > outcome of this legislation. Please call your local AARP branch
> > today.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > --Carrie, Eli, James, Joan, Noah, Peter, Wes, and Zack
> > The MoveOn.org Team
> > November 20th, 2003
> >
> > -----
> >
> > [1] 85 Representatives wrote to Novelli, canceling their memberships:
> > http://www.moveon.org/HouseAARPletter.pdf [2] From the foreword by
> > Novelli to Gingrich's new book, "Saving Lives
> > and Saving Dollars".
> >
> > [3] See http://www.moveon.org/medicare.html for a complete list of
> > organizations.
> >
> > [4] See:
> > http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2003Nov17.html
> > [5] Poll: a majority of AARP members oppose the Medicare bill:
> > http://www.moveon.org/Medicaresurveypr.pdf
> > [6] AARP July letter on minimum acceptable standards
> > http://www.aarp.org/Articles/a2003-0...nmedicare.html
> > [7] How AARP goes back on its word
> > http://www.house.gov/schakowsky/Docu..._11_17_03.html
> > [8]
> > http://www.aarp.org/leadership/Artic...factsheet.html
> >
> >
>
>