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WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a member of the Energy
and Commerce Committee, today said, “Seniors are organized, mobilized
and ready to take back their Medicare from the Republicans bent on ending
it.”
Schakowsky
added that the bill President Bush signed into law today will give drug
companies more than $130 billion and seniors a plan that will undermine
the future of Medicare, do little to reduce the price of drugs, and cost
millions of seniors more than they pay now for prescriptions.
“Seniors
are already angry about what they know: This sham law will do nothing
to lower drug prices and will privatize Medicare. And every day,
they are finding out what a betrayal this bill really is,” Schakowsky said.
Schakowsky
added, “Seniors are going to take to the streets to turn back the assault
on their beloved Medicare by President Bush and the Republican Congress.
As soon as seniors understand what’s in the bill, they are demanding repeal.”
The
Medicare bill, which will take effect in 2006, prohibits Medicare from
negotiating lower drug prices and blocks re-importation of drugs from other
countries at lower prices. In addition, 2.7 million seniors will
lose their retiree prescription drug coverage; up to 6.4 million of the
poorest Medicare beneficiaries will get less drug coverage than they have
now; and millions of seniors will see their Medicare premiums rise if they
refuse to give up their doctor and join an HMO. |
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