Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Just the Facts, Ma'am: A Compendium of Liberal Fiction -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: mph who wrote (7093)	5/10/2004 11:31:22 AM
From: American Spirit	Respond to of 90947

In New Offensive, Kerry Raps Bush on Health Costs By Adam Entous \| May 10, 2004 PITTSBURGH (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on Monday launched a weeklong offensive against President Bush over skyrocketing health care costs, as part of a push in battleground states to stoke doubts about Bush's new drug benefits among seniors. In an address to nursing students at Pennsylvania's Edinboro University and in a new study by his campaign, Kerry will warn that health insurance premiums are rising at crisis proportions -- four times as fast as wages in the last year. "It's not acceptable to do nothing while families lose their savings, workers lose their jobs and businesses close their doors because of the high cost of health care," Kerry said in prepared remarks. Democrats hope to fuel a backlash against the centerpiece of Bush's health care agenda. The Republican president had hoped enactment of legislation adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare would shore up his standing with seniors, a critical voting bloc in November's presidential election. But since signing the legislation into law last year, it has been embroiled in controversy, from bribery allegations to revelations it will cost one-third more than the $400 billion anticipated. This month's roll-out of the administration's new prescription drug card program has likewise been marred by criticism that the discount cards are confusing and offer few savings. With these openings, Kerry turns his focus this week to the issue, which consistently ranks with the economy as a top concern of voters and particularly seniors. He will target key battleground states, with stops in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Florida and Arkansas. A report issued by the Kerry campaign on Monday estimated that total family premiums have increased by $2,777 in the last four years, and that Americans now pay more for health insurance than people in any other country. As these costs have risen, U.S. employers have found themselves at a competitive disadvantage and have responded by slowing hiring and shifting to more part-time and temporary workers, the campaign said. Kerry has called for repeal of the Bush tax cuts for Americans earning more than $200,000 a year in order to pay for his 10-year, $650 billion health care plan. Kerry says his plan will save employees up to $1,000 in premiums a year. Bush campaign spokesman Scott Stanzel countered that Kerry's "solution is to raise taxes and add burdensome new government programs," while opposing Bush's proposed limits on medical malpractice lawsuits. "President Bush would help small businesses provide health care to their employees and would lower health care costs by cracking down on the lawsuit lottery, and John Kerry has opposed medical malpractice reform at every turn," Stanzel said. Despite the criticism, Bush is counting on benefiting politically from the discount drug card program, promising savings to 41 million elderly and disabled Medicare recipients. The cards, which may cost up to $30 a year, are meant to help people pay for medicines until the federal health insurance program starts covering prescription drugs in 2006. Kerry has blasted the program as inadequate and called for cheaper drugs to be imported from Canada.