Timothy H. Bishop: “the Medicare drug program is off to a rocky start, as President Bush put it yesterday. Following a dozen town hall…”

“the Medicare drug program is off to a rocky start, as President Bush put it yesterday. Following a dozen town hall meetings I have held in my district on the part D benefit, my constituents remain confused and doubtful that the drug plan will work for them. As a result, many seniors on Long Island have not yet signed up. Many of those who have chosen a plan are encountering delays in their applications and will not receive their drug cards until after the May 15 sign-up deadline. Adding insult to injury, seniors will be penalized with a 1 percent premium increase for every month after the deadline passes. This Bush Medicare penalty should not be piled on top of the already overwhelming burden of understanding the drug benefit. Mr. Speaker, America's seniors deserve real help keeping up with soaring prescription drug costs. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support a 6-month extension of the sign-up deadline so that seniors are not punished and they receive the affordable life-saving drugs they deserve. ____________________”