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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: jlallen who wrote (157428)	7/3/2001 3:12:58 PM
From: ColtonGang	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

Bush reneges on campaign promise....McAuliffe Calls On Bush To Keep Patients' Promise DNC Releasing New Ad Criticizing Bush For Putting HMO Interests Before The American People Washington, DC -- Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Terry McAuliffe called on George W. Bush today to keep his promise and support the bipartisan Patients' Bill of Rights. Bush has threatened to veto the bill that is now being debated in the Senate and is siding with his special interests donors in the HMO industry instead of with the American people. "Back in the heat of the campaign, George W. Bush promised to support a Patients' Bill of Rights. So why is he breaking his promise and threatening to veto a bipartisan bill now?" Chairman McAuliffe asked. "The answer is simple: he is completely beholden to the special interests in the HMO industry. But a majority of Americans, a majority in the House and a majority in the Senate support the bipartisan McCain-Edwards-Kennedy patients' rights bill, and they deserve the full protection the bill affords them." The bipartisan bill would give patients and doctors the right to make critical health care decisions instead of HMO bureaucrats. In addition, the bill would eliminate the legal immunity HMOs currently enjoy, which is comparable to that given to foreign diplomats. Bush supports a bill that lets the HMOs keep their virtual diplomatic immunity. To make the case to the American people, McAuliffe also announced today the release of a new DNC television ad, entitled "Kept." The ad will initially begin airing today in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and may be expanded if Bush follows through on his veto threat. The ad points out that despite his campaign promise to support a Patients' Bill of Rights, Bush, in concert with the HMO special interests, are conspiring to kill the only real patients' rights bill. "Insurance companies. HMOs. Big corporations. They've contributed $51 million to Bush and the Republicans. And now Bush says he'll veto a real Patients' Bill of Rights...that lets patients hold HMOs accountable when they make bad decisions or medical mistakes," the ad says. Just last night, they took another $20 million, led by the HMO/health care special interests. "George W. Bush is now the biggest obstacle to passing meaningful health care reform," Chairman McAuliffe said. "Once again, just as he has on tax cuts, worker safety, energy and the environment, President Bush is putting the special interests ahead of the people's interests."