Stephanie Herseth Sandlin: “Many of these folks are going to find out, when Medicare is privatized, as is the plan; that is where we are headed, let…”

“Many of these folks are going to find out, when Medicare is privatized, as is the plan; that is where we are headed, let us make no mistake about it, we will no longer have to see these groups coming up here to talk to Congress, because we are not going to have anything to do with it. It is privatized. It is all then going to be a matter of what the HMOs are going to pay, and they will just have to go talk with them. Let us look at what a few organizations have said. Again, the rank and file of AARP is opposed to it. Let us look at the Alliance for Retired Americans: "The Alliance for Retired Americans categorically opposes the proposed Medicare bill being touted by Republican leaders on Capitol Hill. The Bush administration and Congress are callously using a much-needed and long-awaited prescription drug benefit to privatize Medicare. Under the proposed bill Medicare, as we know it, will cease to exist. They may say they are looking out for seniors, but they are really protecting the profits of the big pharmaceutical companies and ensuring profits to the insurance industry."”