Print
E-mail
Share
digg
Newsvine
Facebook
Stumble
Technorati
reddit
Fark
twitterLetter: Drug companies now control Congress
Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006 | 8:34 a.m.
The Republicans in Congress have lost the cornerstones of the Grand Old Party. The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 illustrates the problem. How does the GOP square the following with their beliefs?
Cornerstone: All business shall play on a level playing field.
Yet in the Medicare bill, the GOP Congress forbade Medicare to go out for bid on drugs. This action gave drug companies no reason to sharpen their pencil, thus costing taxpayers billions.
Cornerstone: No business should be given special favors.
Yet the GOP Congress, using taxpayer funds, gave all HMOs, including those for profit, at least a 13 percent bonus. What this means is that a procedure paid for by Medicare will cost more than that provided by an HMO.
Cornerstone: The Republicans have always maintained that the individual should be able to make decisions that affect the individual's assets.
In the Medicare Modernization bill, however, the individual is prohibited from purchasing any out-of-pocket insurance to help reduce the cost of drugs. Medicare Part B allowed a person to purchase insurance to help pay for the portion Medicare does not pay for.
The drug companies now control Congress. We must rethink our choices in the 2006 election.
Lou deBottari
Carson City
archive
Spotlight
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Las Vegas firefighters burn up more sick time than other city employees
- Manny Pacquiao makes statement against Joshua Clottey
- What now for Manny Pacquiao?
- Homeowner charged in shooting of 2 men leaving in car
- Despite SDSU’s 55-45 triumph, UNLV still confident heading into Selection Sunday
- Dancin’ Again: UNLV headed to OKC as 8-seed, will face Northern Iowa Thursday
- Slot machine capitalizes on success of ‘Sex and the City’ franchise
- Harry Reid takes on Sue Lowden early, hoping labor is listening
- Live blog from Dallas: Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey, first fight card at Cowboys Stadium
- MWC LIVE BLOG: Rebels fall to Aztecs, 55-45, must wait for NCAA at-large bid
Blogs
Shark Bytes
Silencing Arizona's fans with a win against Georgetown (2 Comments)
The Kats Report
Departing Dallas, with thoughts of water attractions and a splashy title bout
Live blog from Dallas: Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey, first fight card at Cowboys Stadium (2 Comments)
Elsewhere
Rich Franklin, not Tito Ortiz, to face Chuck Liddell in June? (1 Comment)
The Kats Report
Is it possible to gauge a fighter's mindset from a weigh-in? We'll find out tonight
Elsewhere
James Toney says he wants Brock Lesnar first (8 Comments)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
M Resort files suit against many players to recoup water money taken in budget compromise (4 Comments)
Calendar »
- 15 Mon
- 16 Tue
- 17 Wed
- 18 Thu
- 19 Fri
-
Michael Monroe at Wasted Space
Wasted Space | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Rhumbar presents Pink Sugar Mondays
The Mirage Hotel and Casino
-
“Celtic Monday” at McFadden’s
McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon | 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
St. Patrick's celebration at Cabo Wabo
Cabo Wabo Cantina
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
