GOP Renews Era of Big Government
By Scott Holleran
November 25, 2003
With zero time remaining, the bill to expand
Medicare had been short by two votesyet, long after the clock
had stopped, the Republican leadership maneuvered to change key
conservative votes. Later, Rep. Butch Otter, R-Idaho, pleaded to the
Associated Press: "I did not want to vote for this bill." But, in
the end, that is exactly what the conservative did. . . . [ full article ]
A Prescription for Disaster
By Richard E. Ralston
November 18, 2003
At a cost of $400 billion over 10 years,
Congressional Republicans have agreed in Conference Committee—with
the enthusiastic encouragement of a Republican President—to the
greatest expansion of government in two generations. This new
Medicare program can only result in what government supplied health
care has always produced in the U.S. and elsewhere: fewer new drugs
and a lot more government. Of course, after a few years in practice
we all know the program will end up costing a lot more. . . . [ full article ]
A Plea to Grandparents: Just Say No to Prescription Drug Subsidies
By Scott Holleran
October 28, 2003
Today's seniors are at the center of the most
profound health care legislation since the Clinton health care plan:
expansion of Medicare to grant prescription drug subsidies to people
over 65.
One might ask why, with the nation at war
following the worst attack in U.S. history and a struggling economy,
the GOP-controlled Congress and president would seek subsidies for
one of the wealthiest generations of older people in human history. . . . [ full article ]
Crossing the Line Over Health Care As a Right
By Scott Holleran
October 16, 2003
Southern California's largest grocery strike in
25 years offers a clear example of opposing ideas in action; the
labor dispute is a fundamental conflict over whether health
insurance should be financed by those who want insuranceor by
those who hire those who want insurance. It's plainly a strike for
health care as a right. . . . [ full article ]
Kill Billto Expand Medicare
By Scott Holleran
October 14, 2003
From time to time, Congress passes, and the
President signs, a bill that forever changes every American's life.
The Medicare prescription drug coverage billwhich President Bush
has vowed to signis such an event; if passed, this expansion of
Medicare, like the Medicare Act of 1965, will make history. . . . [ full article ]
Health and Taxes: Even Worse Than Death and Taxes
By Richard E. Ralston
September 29, 2003
It is insulting enough when the government
celebrates your death by taxing away your wealth or your business.
Much more damaging are the taxes on the money you need to stay
alive.
Medicare legislation now pending before a
conference committee in Washington would continue to punish those
who pay their own way, and deceive those who think they can get away
with forcing everyone else to pay for their health care expenses. . . . [ full article ]
Free Markets: The Key to New Drugs at a Reasonable Price
By Richard E. Ralston
September 19, 2003
Government control of prescriptions drugs and their prices would
blow up the pipeline of the new medications that have significantly
improved the lives of millions of Americans. . . . [ full article ]
Should Americans Surrender Their Freedom for Government Drugs?
By Richard E. Ralston
September 8, 2003
A Congressional conference committee is now attempting to reach a
compromise between a bad Medicare prescription drug bill passed by
the House and a worse drug bill passed by the Senate. The only
possible outcome is something awfuland President Bush, who is
pressuring Republicans to compromise, has pledged to sign
practically any bill to emerge. . . . [ full article ]
The Republican Drug Plan: A Prescription for Less Freedom and Higher Costs
By Richard E. Ralston
July 3, 2003
The Bush Administration and Congressional
Republicans are advocating new drug benefit plans that will replace
free choice with government controls. Instead of making their own
decisions about the best medications, patients and their doctors
will be reduced to seeking permission to use what the government
decides to provide. This can only result in what government supplied
health care has always produced in the U.S. and elsewhere:
shortages, rationing, waiting lists, higher taxes, lower quality,
less research and fewer new drugs. . . . [ full article ]
A Leap Toward Socialized Medicineby One Vote
By Scott Holleran
June 27, 2003
Last Thursday
night Congress approved President Bush's expansion of Medicare by
one vote. Once Bush signs the bill, every American over age 65 will
lose the freedom to choose, pay for and control drug treatments. The
proposal, set to start in three years, is a plan only Hillary
Clinton could love. . . . [ full article ]
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