Bush Offers Iowans More of the Same Failed Medicare Plan

President Bush will be in Iowa today attempting to quell concerns that his disastrous Medicare Prescription Drug Plan has failed seniors. The President's failed prescription drug plan has left many seniors across the country and in Iowa vulnerable and confused, because of numerous conflicting plans and a large gap in drug coverage. Despite complaints that the plan has been difficult to implement and has forced Iowans to foot the bill the Bush Administration continues to offer more of the same failed Medicare policies and misleading rhetoric.

Instead of working to reduce the costs of prescription drugs, President Bush and the Republican Congress chose to give a huge windfall to special interests while the President mislead Americans on the real cost of his plan. Adding insult to injury, the President's plan would force seniors who have not enrolled by May 15 to pay a penalty. While President Bush is in Iowa he should explain why his plan continues to penalize seniors. Here in Iowa there are 14 providers offering as many as 41 different plans costing anywhere from $1.97 to $99.90. [Kaiser Family Foundation]

"President Bush is desperately trying to sell a bill of goods to Iowa's seniors, while asking tax payers to pay out of pocket for his mistakes," said Democratic National Committee spokesperson Amaya Smith. "The President continues to put special interests above the needs of the American people. Instead of working to undermine the health care security of seniors, President Bush should join Democrats who are fighting for a Medicare drug plan and that works for seniors and not just big drug companies."