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| Wilson Responds to Emanuel Visit to New Mexico |
April 18, 2006 |
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Wilson Cites High Enrollment Numbers in NM-01
Albuquerque, NM – U.S. Representative Heather Wilson today responded to Rep. Rahm Emanuel, who visited her district today to criticize the new prescription drug coverage under Medicare. Wilson’s response to Emanuel is below:
April 18, 2006
Rep. Rahm Emanuel
3742 West Irving Park Road
Chicago, IL 60618
Phone: 773-267-5926
Fax: 773-267-6583
Dear Rahm,
I understand you are visiting Albuquerque, New Mexico, today to speak with seniors from my Congressional district about the new Medicare prescription drug benefit.
While you are always welcome to visit New Mexico, I would suggest that your time might be better spent making sure that seniors in your own district in Illinois know about the savings they could realize under the Medicare Part D program, and that they are given the help they need to sign-up for it and begin saving money. With hard work and great partnerships, we`ve had tremendous success in my district by providing seniors information about the program, visiting senior centers, retirement homes and pharmacies to answer questions, and helping hundreds of seniors enroll.
The latest national enrollment numbers by Congressional district reveal a wide chasm between the numbers of seniors already enrolled in your district, versus those enrolled in my district in New Mexico. While 85% of seniors in NM-01 are already covered – one of the highest rates in the nation – the same is true for only 57% of seniors in your district. You`ve got a lot of work to do. There are 32,000 seniors in your district who need your help as their Member of Congress, and it’s really a shame that instead of helping them you`ve chosen to spend your time in New Mexico demagoguing this new benefit for seniors.
The CEO of AARP, Bill Novelli, recently said that with the Medicare drug program, more older Americans than ever before have access to affordable prescription drugs. He also said, “The focus right now needs to be on helping people, not playing politics. Discouraging enrollment is a disservice to the millions who could be saving money on prescription drug bills.”
I fully agree with the head of the AARP. The focus should be on helping people. I think you would do well to return to your constituents and help them, rather than visiting New Mexico to play partisan politics.
Sincerely,
Heather Wilson
Member of Congress
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