Pacific Views

Another Bush Ally Takes A Hit

While scrolling past all the Hussein coverage, I noticed a number of editorials critical of the AARP. Which, considering its heretofore tremendous clout, was a bit surprising. The Berkshire Eagle publishes this editorial entitled The Useless AARP which begins:

Most of the AARP's 35 million members -- 82 percent, according to a Democratic pollster -- are spitting tacks over the decision by the lobbying group for the elderly to lend its politically mighty imprimatur to George W. Bush's misbegotten $400 billion overhaul of Medicare. The Bush scheme is one with severely limited prescription-drug and other benefits for the infirm elderly but bargeloads of subsidies and handouts for the pharmaceutical and insurance industries. ...

But while a Scott Burns editorial published in two Texas papers explains why the columnist will never join the AARP, AARP head William Novelli defends his decision. Ann McFeatters has another take in a column about the AARP's next target where Novelli is described as downplaying the hyped drug card, while seeming somewhat clueless about what he's just passed.

...Novelli himself doesn't understand all the permutations of the law. For example, he doesn't know exactly how government bureaucrats will draw up the regulations that will govern how, as of next May, insurers may sell $30 drug discount cards that are supposed to save seniors from 10 percent to 25 percent on the costs of some, but not all drugs. He says there is enormous skepticism about it because many think that drug-makers will simply raise their prices that much.

"I don't think the drug card is going to be the world's most exciting event," he says dryly. ...

Somebody tell the Republicans. Or don't. They've got their story, and they're sticking to it.

Posted by natasha at December 15, 2003 03:35 AM | TrackBack