Subject: [big campaign] Bush-Republicans Vote to Dismantle Medicare
From: "Brad Woodhouse" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:39:28 -0400
List-Id: <bigcampaign.googlegroups.com>

www.americansunitedforchange.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                          CONTACT: Jeremy Funk,
605-366-3654

DATE: June 27, 2008

Bush-Republicans Vote to Dismantle Medicare - Put Insurance Companies
Ahead of Seniors, the Disabled, Docs and Community Pharmacists

While McCain Skips Vote in Favor of Raising Campaign Cash, Sealing Fate
on Razor Thin Vote, Bush-Republicans Block Effort to Improve Medicare
for Seniors, Doctors and Pharmacists   

Washington - At the behest of President Bush and the Health Insurance
Industry, Bush-Republicans mustered 40 votes last night to block the
Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act - legislation which
received broad bipartisan support in the House and which would have
improved Medicare for seniors, the disabled, rural residents and
pharmacists and would have prevented a cut in doctors fees scheduled for
next month.  

The cut in doctors' fees under Medicare, which now will take place as a
result of Republicans blocking action on this legislation last night,
will have an immediate and harmful impact on millions of seniors as
physicians are likely to curtail or suspend services to Medicare
beneficiaries.

"John McCain was more interested in raising campaign cash than
protecting Medicare for seniors - while the rest of the Bush-Republicans
were more interested in their loyalty to the President and insurance
companies than standing up for seniors, pharmacists and doctors," said
Brad Woodhouse of Americans United for Change which has been working to
eliminate insurance company subsidies under the Medicare Advantage
program.  Cuts to such subsidies, in part, would have been used to
prevent cuts to physicians' reimbursements under Medicare.  "Last nights
vote is a microcosm of the Bush-Republican Legacy - put the corporate
interests first and everyone else be damned.  America's seniors can
thank John McCain, George Bush and Senate Republicans for wreaking havoc
on Medicare and placing their health and well being at risk.  Of course,
after eight years where Bush-McCain-Republicans have tried every
maneuver to dismantle the safety net for seniors - from the failed
effort to privatize Social Security, to the giveaways to big Pharma in
the Medicare prescription drug program - should anyone really be
surprised."  

-30-

  

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