On the recordFebruary 28, 2001
after President Bush's speech last night, it is time, as Paul Harvey would say, for the rest of the story. To those who have prospered the most in the last 10 years, who earn over $300,000 a year, President Bush gives almost $1 trillion of public money. But to those seniors who are desperate for a Medicare prescription drug benefit, the President says, in effect, forget it. He proposes to give subsidies to HMOs and insurance companies in the hopes that they will offer seniors private insurance. To those parents, teachers, and educators who want full funding of special education, the President said, in effect, forget it. To those who built Medicare and Social Security, brick by brick over 65 years, President Bush said, in effect, tear down these buildings. He wants to turn Medicare over to insurance companies, and he wants to privatize Social Security. That is the rest of the story; and unfortunately, it is not pretty.
Source
govinfo.gov
