2003; When Republicans "Financed" Health-Care

[Mr. Shaman]

Sorry....it NEVER HAPPENED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​

"Republican senators attacking the cost of a Democratic health care bill showed far different concerns six years ago, when they approved a major Medicare expansion that has added tens of billions of dollars to federal deficits.

The inconsistency - or hypocrisy, as some call it - has irked Democrats, who claim that their plan will pay for itself with higher taxes and spending cuts and cite the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office for support.

By contrast, when Republicans controlled the House, Senate and White House in 2003, they overcame Democratic opposition to add a deficit-financed prescription drug benefit to Medicare. The program will cost a half-trillion dollars over 10 years, or more by some estimates.

With no new taxes or spending offsets accompanying the Medicare drug program, the cost has been added to the federal debt.

All current GOP senators, including the 24 who voted for the 2003 Medicare expansion, oppose the health care bill that's backed by President Barack Obama and most congressional Democrats. Some Republicans say they don't believe the CBO's projections that the health care overhaul will pay for itself. As for their newfound worries about big government health expansions, they essentially say: That was then, this is now."

2003​

"President Bush on Monday signed into law landmark Medicare reform legislation that includes prescription drug benefits and has sparked a bitter fight between opponents and supporters.

Speaking at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, Bush characterized the measure as "the greatest advance in health care coverage for America's seniors since the founding of Medicare."

Backers say the $400 billion Medicare Prescription Drug Modernization Act will provide much-needed help for the nation's 40 million senior citizens to buy medications; critics say it is a giveaway to drug makers and insurance companies and a prelude to the dismantling of the program.

"With this law, we're giving older Americans better choices and more control over their health care, so they can receive the modern medical care they deserve," he said. ("Hand-job", anyone? )

In addition to the prescription drug benefits, the measure provides billion$ of dollar$ in $ub$idie$ to insurance companies and health maintenance organizationshttp://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/12/08/elec04.medicare/, and takes the first step toward allowing private plans to compete with Medicare."

This would've been back, BEFORE Freepers & Dead-O-Heads decided it was hip to get politically-active....acting on their depth of historical-perspective.

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