Frist proposes fixes for 'antiquated' Medicare

The Tennessean ^ | May 3, 2003 | ANNE PAINE

[sarcasm]

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said yesterday that he could secure the nominations of Bush judicial appointees through parliamentary maneuvering, but said it would ''blow up'' the system and kill the chances of success for his next and largest challenge, fixing Medicare.

[Salvey]

He said he hired a top parliamentary expert and found that he could get both the nominees through ''like that,'' he said, snapping his fingers...''I could do it, easily, but it would blow the system up.''

More B.S. The conservatives have lost their nerve; the power has been handed to them and they don't know what to do with it. Sheesh.

[alloysteel]

About time a few fixes were coming along. By someone who has some idea what he is talking about. We have heard this blather for years about "universal" health care, and "single-payer" insurance. With all the horrible examples held up throughout the world of government-controlled health delivery systems, why does anyone think that a similar system would work here? You cannot tinker this kind of system into running, because there are no internal incentives for making the delivery of care either efficient or economical. In fact, quite the opposite. And there is the further disadvantage in that the average quality will go into a spiral of decline, finally reducing our health delivery system, and the care provided, to Third World levels.

Perhaps America needs this. I cannot agree.

[WhiteGuy]

''We're going to end up passing, I'll betcha before we're done, 800 to 900 billion dollars in tax relief'' over 10 years.''

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OK, is this in addition to the trillion dollars (over ten years) we were promised last year?

Also just what was the total dollar amount of last years tax cut?

Anyone know?

[kcordell]

If Frist could get the judicial appointments through he would have done so. Liar! Now he wants us to think he can fix Medicare? He just wants attention deflected away from the dismal failures he's orchestrated.

[DManA]

Would have been nice if the author had given a clue, a hint, a whiff of what Frist actually wants to do with Medicare reform.

[basil]

I don't think it matters what Frist is proposing. I have begun to get the drift that he's just another RINO without a clue!

[Jim Noble]

He wants to provide a prescription drug program for seniors, who he said will spend $2 trillion on medications over the next 10 years

What is he, nuts?

[Jim Noble]

OK, is this in addition to the trillion dollars (over ten years) we were promised last year?

No, it's in addition to the two trillion he wants to spend on pills for greedy geezers.

[Mr. Bird]

Frist proposes taking something that is currently available through Medigap coverage and making it "free". What a freakin' genius....Could somebody post some links to some old Trent Lott stories so I can mitigate this depression?

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Seniors vote. They want their medications and the working families of America will have to pay for them. Politicians will take the earnings of the young, less likely to vote, and give to the elderly after withdrawing a bloated share for the bureaucrats.

[Amalie]

Good post. Frist is in a very tough place, and will remain there unless there is a 60-seat majority in 2004 (possiblity but none certain). If he does whip Estrada and Owens through by some other means, the Dems will be that much more determined to make sure nothing happens before the end of this session. A different thread talked about how some of Bush's other nominees are moving through; this is good - period. So, where is the high ground? Let the games continue; it is building some capital in the Senate to be used when needed (i.e. - they obstructed this and that, and now they continue...). Grabbing Medicare as a GOP initiative is important, and Frist is correct in choosing his battles wisely. My feeling is that, when push comes to shove, Estrada and Owens ( as well as Pickering) will get in. Something else will be going on that is devisive and the Dems will be on the ropes, then Frist will make the parlimentary point of order, and it will be resolved as part of "getting past the obstructionistic tactics." Watch and wait..

[Joe Bonforte]

I don't think it matters what Frist is proposing. I have begun to get the drift that he's just another RINO without a clue!

Not to crow too much, but when he was appointed Majority Leader, I talked about this. Here, for example I said "I've seen Bill Frist in person (he's my senator) and I predict many freedom-loving people will be disappointed in him." And here, "Despite how he campaigned, he [Frist] doesn't seem to have any solid conservative priniciples." In fact the latter quote is from a whole thread discussing Frist's lack of true conservative ideals. So some of us are not the least bit surprised.