First up we've got the new revised cost of the Drug Benefit (or should it be drug company benefit) to $720 billion, up just a little from the previous estimate of $400 billion. According to the Post (that's the WaPo) medicare chief McClellan (any relation to our press secretary?)
acknowledged that the cumulative cost of the program between 2006 and 2015 will reach $1.2 trillion, but he cited several major savings and offsets that he said will reduce the federal government's bottom-line cost to $720 billion.
I'd expect it closer to the higher figure knowing this administration.
Next up is the grumbling in the house about the budget. I'm glad no democrats have praised this budget, and I pray Joe Lieberman will not be reincarnated as a rep. on the budget committee. I'm also glad Republicans are cranky about it as well. Of course no budget proposal actually makes it through unscathed, but there's always reason to worry knowing this administration's strong-arm tactics.
Here's a typical example of Bush being Bush: Although he was in Detroit yesterday talking up his social security and financial plans, as well as wanting to cut ineffective programs like Even Start because why should we help poor people learn how to read (and those hated unnecessary lawsuits that are driving the economy into the ground - why, i lost 2 jobs yesterday!), at the same time the AP reports that
The Bush administration hopes to raise about $8 million next year in new tolls on freight ships passing through the St. Lawrence Seaway, a move the Great Lakes shipping industry said Tuesday could cost it business and jobs.
link here. How exactly do people say they can trust this man?
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