President Bush threatens to veto if Medicare is scaled back
MIL/Agencies/NYT, Feb 12, 2005. Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON - President Bush warned on Friday that he would veto any bill that scales back Medicare's prescription drug benefit. Medicare is to be available in January 2006 to millions of elderly and disabled people.
New estimates shows that the benefit will cost about $724 billion over a decade have irked the Congress Members, since they never thought it to be so high budget.
Many members of Congress wish to revise the budget and change the Medicare law this year.
According to New York Times, the Conservatives seek cutbacks in benefits and cost controls. Liberals and some centrists want to require the government to negotiate prices with drug manufacturers.
But on Friday, Mr. Bush said, "I signed Medicare reform proudly, and any attempt to limit the choices of our seniors and to take away their prescription drug coverage under Medicare will meet my veto."
White House officials made clear that Mr. Bush would resist any fundamental change in the law, which he described Friday as "a landmark achievement."
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