Political Quotes

“my parents are both gone now. They died before this Congress could act to provide prescription drug coverage for them under Medicare. So they both paid for it out of their pocket. Let us talk about what this bill would do for those who survive. The agreement would provide 514,456 Oregonian seniors with access to a Medicare prescription drug benefit for the first time in the history of this program. Beginning in 2006, there would be 129,000 Medicare individuals in Oregon who would have access to drug coverage they would not otherwise have, and it will improve it for many more. They will get a $600 card if you are in the lower-income level of $12,000 a year. Couples who make $16,000 a year who lack prescription drug coverage today would be given $600 in annual assistance to help them afford their medicines along with the discount card of 15 to 25 percent. That is a total of $92 million for Oregon seniors that would help 76,000 of them be able to pay for their drugs in 2004 and 2005. There are 151,000 seniors in Oregon who have limited savings and low incomes who will qualify for even more generous coverage. They will pay no premium, no deductible for their prescription drug coverage, and they will just be responsible for a minimal copayment. They will get the coverage. If you are low income under this plan, they get the coverage. Perhaps that is part of why the Portland Oregonian has endorsed this program.…”