Dannie wrote:

> 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

Right. The dems have had a long time...yadda yadda

The repubs have been in control in congress for more than a decade.
It's taken this long to get a bad bill through. Imagine how long it
would take to get a good one.

Pastorio




> "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
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>