House Republicans Need to Stand Up to Bush Administration and Help America's Seniors

HOUSE REPUBLICANS NEED TO STAND UP TO BUSH ADMINISTRATION AND HELP AMERICA'S SENIORS -- (House of Representatives - May 17, 2006)

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans have failed millions of American seniors by choosing once again to rubber-stamp the harmful policy of the Bush administration. Despite the fact that recent polls show only 55 percent of seniors knew about the May 15 sign-up deadline for a private prescription drug plan, House Republicans refused to join us in extending the deadline until the end of the year.

Now, millions of seniors who have yet to sign up cannot until the end of the year. House Republicans and the Bush administration will also penalize them when they sign up with at least a 7 percent tax on their premium, a tax that they will be forced to pay every month for the rest of their lives.

Our seniors are not to blame for this complicated and confusing prescription drug law. It is so confusing that the people who are attempting to answer the seniors' questions about the different plans are giving out wrong information more than half of the time.

Once again, the House Republicans have failed American seniors.

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