Janice Schakowsky: “when are House Republicans going to stop being a rubber stamp for President Bush and join us in being on the side of…”

“when are House Republicans going to stop being a rubber stamp for President Bush and join us in being on the side of seniors and the disabled instead of the pharmaceutical companies? House Republicans don't have too much time left to make the right decision. As this calendar shows, Congress has only 19 days left to act on behalf of millions of American senior citizens who have still not chosen a drug plan. Despite a multimillion-dollar campaign and months of heavy promotion by the administration, only 8 million uninsured Medicare beneficiaries have voluntarily signed up so far for a private drug plan, leaving 14 million seniors still without any drug coverage. Well, some of these seniors have simply determined that the new prescription drug plan will not help them and their prescription drug bills. Others are still navigating through dozens of different plans hoping to find one that will help them. House Republicans should not add to this pressure by supporting the President's unreasonable May 15 deadline. House Republicans should join the Democrats in extending the deadline until the end of the year. As we mark off another day, the countdown continues. ____________________”