A Healthcare System that
Works for Everyone
We will join 36 other industrialized
nations in making sure everyone has access to
affordable health care, starting by fixing the
prescription drug program and investing in
stem cell and other medical research.
In the wealthiest, most powerful nation on
earth, no one should have to choose between
taking their child to a doctor and paying the
rent. Democrats are committed to making sure
every single American has access to
affordable, effective health care coverage. We
want to fix the disastrous Medicare Part D and
ensure our seniors can afford their
prescription drugs.
We also believe in investing in life saving
stem cell and other medical research that
offers real hope for cures and treatment for
millions of Americans.
A report released by the Campaign for
America's Future last July revealed that
nearly 7 million beneficiaries with annual
drug costs between $2,250 and $5,100 will fall
into the 'donut hole' this week," which means
that they will be forced to pay the entire
cost of their drug coverage between when it
falls between those two amounts. CBS News
reports that, "it's this gap -- of almost
$3,000 -- that many sick and disabled seniors
call unaffordable." "'We feel there is
something very wrong with the way Medicare
Part D is written,' says David Madison, who's
taking one very expensive cancer drug. He says
he reached the 'doughnut hole' in a month. The
total cost of his care, he told us, plus the
coverage gap is wiping him out. 'It could
eventually lead to bankruptcy,' he says. 'It
is catastrophic.'"
Nearly 47 Million Americans Are Uninsured -
Increasing for the Fifth Year in a row. The
number of Americans lacking health insurance
increased by 1.3 million last year -- and by
6.8 million since Bush took office in 2001.
Today, a total of 46.6 million people are
uninsured -- roughly one in seven Americans.
[U.S. Census Bureau, 8/29/06; Table HI-4]
The Federal Government recently dispersed
$50 million in Medicare prescription plan
premium refunds and would like seniors to
return the money. About 230,000 seniors
received an average refund of $215. Some
seniors received the money directly deposited
into their accounts....
After delaying approval for years, the Food
and Drug Administration has finally approved
Plan B for over-the-counter sales to women
over the age of 18, something that their own
advisory panel recommended a long time ago,
but that was left...
This week President Bush spoke on the
transparency of the health care system. What
he wouldn't talk about was his failure to
address the health care crisis in America, the
fact that health care costs have gone through
the roof, or that one in seven Americans lacks
health insurance. Focusing on health care
transparency merely reminds the American
people just how much health care costs have
increased under his watch.
Today, President Bush will speak in
Minnesota on the transparency of the health
care system.
That's the question on everyone's mind
after the FDA suddenly announced they would
resume consideration of Plan B this week. From
The San Francisco Chronicle: Plan B has come
to symbolize what many critics of the Bush
administration say is...
Who do you think deserves to benefit? This
is what happens when you let Republicans pass
a bill that caters to big drug companies
instead of America's seniors. Columbia
resident Mary Ann Anderson, 81, was caught by
surprise even though...
Drug companies will reap "$2 billion or
more this year" as "a result of the transfer
of millions of low-income people into the new
Medicare Part D drug program that went into
effect in January."
Bill Frist has proven to be both an
ineffective leader in the Senate and out of
touch with America's priorities. With his
party sinking in the polls and with Americans
loosing confidence in the
Republican-controlled Congress, Frist has been
unable to lead his fellow Republicans, has
trouble garnering their support in the Senate
and routinely loses political battles.
This week, Florida State Senator Ron Klein
delivered the Democratic Radio Address.
With Monday's sign-up deadline looming,
President Bush will attend several events
designed to sell his failed Medicare
prescription drug program. But, despite clear
evidence that many seniors have yet to sign up
for the prescription drug plan and that many
are unaware of the penalties if they miss the
May 15th deadline, President Bush and
Republicans in Congress refuse to extend the
enrollment deadline.
CNN: "The nation's largest beverage
distributors have agreed to halt nearly all
soda sales to public schools, according to a
deal announced Wednesday by the William J.
Clinton Foundation."
Today, while as many as 20 states still
await reimbursement for the cost of covering
prescription drugs, President Bush travels to
Iowa and Missouri to pitch his failed Medicare
Prescription Drug plan during two different
stops at seniors centers and a “Conversation”
on Medicare.
President Bush visited Missouri today in
attempt to quell concerns that his disastrous
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan has failed
seniors. The President's failed prescription
drug plan has left many seniors across the
country and in Missouri vulnerable and
confused, because of numerous conflicting
plans and a large gap in drug coverage.
President Bush will be in Iowa today
attempting to quell concerns that his
disastrous Medicare Prescription Drug Plan has
failed seniors. The President's failed
prescription drug plan has left many seniors
across the country and in Iowa vulnerable and
confused, because of numerous conflicting
plans and a large gap in drug coverage.
This week, President Bush is again touting
his plan to shift health care costs to
workers, while doing nothing to reduce the
numbers of uninsured Americans or address the
spiraling costs of care.
In an attempt to close the rift that has
been growing between the Bush White House and
the Republican-led Congress over a host of
issues, President Bush has tapped former OMB
head Josh Bolten as his new chief of staff.
However, Bolton’s relations with the GOP-led
Congress are not as warm as White House
operatives would have many believe.
This week, Congressman Marion Berry of
Arkansas delivered the weekly Democratic Radio
Address. To listen to the audio, click here.
"Good morning. I'm Congressman Marion Berry of
Arkansas, a senior citizen, a pharmacist, and
someone who has spent the past...
An op-ed by former U.S. Representative and
Fox News contributor Martin Frost highlights
the disastrous impact President Bush's severe
cuts in key veterans' health programs will
have on the economic security of the brave men
and women who have served in our country's
armed forces.
As we continue to find out additional
details on President Bush's harmful budget,
recent news reports confirm his budget makes
reckless cuts to the federal government's
national breast and cervical cancer program
run by the Centers for Disease Control.
President Bush touted his broken
prescription drug plan today in New York, even
while delays and problems continue to
undermine the security of millions of
America's seniors and their families who rely
on Medicare.
In the face of increasing dissatisfaction
with his failed leadership, President Bush
today will visit the Wendy’s International
headquarters in Dublin, Ohio to pitch his
health care proposals.
Democratic National Committee Chairman
Howard Dean issued the following statement
following news of the South Dakota State
Senate’s approval of a ban on abortion:
After less than one month, it is clear that
President Bush's new Medicare scheme for
prescription drugs is a disaster. Hundreds of
thousands of Americans across the country have
gone without needed medicines and 20 states
have had to step in and spend millions to
cover seniors and others who have been left in
the cold while glitches continue to plague the
Bush Administration's failed drug plan.
This morning, Democratic National Committee
Chairman Howard Dean addressed the General
Session of the 2005 DNC Fall Meeting in
Phoenix, Arizona.
Republican crony Lester Crawford is at the
center of the the Bush administration's
politicization of emergency contraception.
If you own a home or ever use health care,
President Bush wants to make it more expensive
for you to live in America
Even as Republican Party leaders travel the
country hyping their newfound interest in
attracting minority voters, the Census Bureau
today released new data showing that African
American families have been especially hurt by
the Bush Administration's failed leadership on
poverty, health insurance and wages.
Even as Republican Party leaders travel the
country hyping their newfound interest in
attracting minority voters, the Census Bureau
today released new data showing that Hispanic
families have been especially hurt by the Bush
Administration's failed leadership on poverty,
health insurance and wages.
Today, the Census Bureau issued its latest
national report on income, poverty and health
insurance. The figures are troubling.
From the Kansas Democratic Party: "Kansas
families deserve better access to health care,
and we’re working hard to create a healthy
state for all Kansans," said Gov. Kathleen
Sebelius. "Health care, and particularly
long-term care is best when it happens in the
community, near friends and family members.
These new centers will help Kansans receive
care in their communities..."
Despite underfunding veterans' benefits and
opposing health care for our troops, the Bush
White House has dispatched Vice President
Cheney to Springfield, Missouri today to speak
to the 73rd national convention of the
Military Order of the Purple Heart.
The New England Journal of Medicine today
reported on three studies that show African
Americans continue to suffer from healthcare
disparities and that only meager progress has
been made in recent years to close the gap
between African Americans and whites.
Democratic National Committee Chairman
Howard Dean today urged Vice President Cheney
to use his visit to Missouri to explain why
the Bush Administration has failed to fully
fund veterans benefits for the brave
Missourians fighting on the front lines of the
war on terror.
Frist's decision is the opportunistic
flip-flop of someone who has already set his
sights on the 2008 White House race, and is
the perfect example of the schism threatening
to tear the Republican Party apart.
Washington, DC -- DNC Chair Howard Dean
today applauded Supreme Court Justice Sandra
Day O'Connor's service to the nation. He
called on President Bush to follow the example
set when President Reagan nominated Justice
O'Connor by choosing consensus over
conflict...
Williamson Tobacco Co, and
British American Tobacco, conspired to deceive
the public about the health risks of smoking.
In a shocking development, DOJ lawyers
abandoned the recommendations provided in
testimony by key government witnesses and
requested a fraction of the amount suggested
as an appropriate financial penalty for these
companies.
On August 9, 2001, Bush
announced a new Federal policy that severely
limited stem cell research in the United
States. Now, a bipartisan group in Congress is
working to eliminate the stifling restrictions
the Administration put into place. However,
Bush has steadfastly refused to reconsider the
issue, despite the fact that his own NIH
Director admits that the President's ideology
is hindering scientific progress.
In response to Senator Rick
Santorum's comments late this afternoon on the
floor of the United States Senate, DNC
Spokesman Josh Earnest issued the following
statement...
Today, President Bush is
posing for a photo-op on global AIDS, but
President Mandela has heard Bush's promises on
global AIDS before. Bush has promised $15
billion to combat the pandemic only to block
efforts to provide affordable generic
treatments, and try to cut funding for the
Global Fund to fight AIDS.
More and more American women
are fed up with President Bush's failed
policies, from his disastrous scheme for
Social Security to rising budget deficits and
his ineffective health care policies. Women
who voted for President Bush just months ago
are flocking to the Democratic Party because
George Bush and the Republicans have focused
on a partisan power grab instead of addressing
the issues that will have a real impact on
women's lives.
After unveiling a Social
Security plan that slashes benefits, President
Bush has now offered another raw deal for
America's seniors -- a prescription drug plan
that would reduce their food stamp benefits.
More importantly, this is the second time the
Bush White House has proposed to slash food
stamps of seniors who enroll in Bush's
so-called Medicare prescription drug benefit.
As President Bush visits Iowa
today to sell his scheme to privatize Social
Security, he continues to ignore what the
Social Security Trustees label the real
crisis: Medicare. Last week, the 2005 Annual
Report of the Social Security board of
trustees confirmed the dire financial outlook
for Medicare, concluding that Medicare will
become insolvent in the year 2020.
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