Snowe, Collins hold key votes on Medicare drug-benefit bill

http://www.pressherald.com/news/state/031118medicare.shtml


WASHINGTON — Maine's two Republican senators continue to have concerns about legislation to create a prescription-drug benefit within Medicare, a key element of what would be the largest expansion in the history of the 38-year-old health-care program for the elderly and disabled. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins are particularly wary of a provision that would put Medicare in competition with private insurers, a change that Republican leaders and President Bush are pushing to keep costs down.

So far, Snowe and Collins have not said how they will vote. But with congressional leaders hoping to approve a bill for Bush to sign by Friday, their votes will be critical in a Senate that has 51 Republicans, 48 Democrats and one independent.

/snip/

Snowe and Collins were among 44 lawmakers - including seven Republicans - who signed a letter Friday objecting to what is called "premium support," a plan to subsidize private insurers to provide the benefit in competition with Medicare.

propoganda ads in Maine directed at these 2 Senators? We shall see how their spines hold up, I suspect they will be beaten down shortly.

Remember that shit?

was that seniors in Maine are really active. When the state government tried to pass legislation creating a group to negotiate drug prices with the drug companies, the companies sent all of their lobbyists to Maine. The elderly saw this going on and they would fill up the seats in the legislature while it was going through the it before the lobbyist could find a seat. I am very confident that seniors will be up in arms in Maine.

What has Chafee said?

John Baldacci, the Governor, is also actively developing a State-wide healthcare insurance plan. Maine has a very high % of seniors because many younger people move out due to lack of job opportunities.

I think Snowe and Collins are in a real dilemma. If they vote for this bill, they will be cooked in the next election. If they vote against, they will incur the wrath of their Party. I'm waiting for Snowe, and maybe Collins, to see the light and cross over to the good side.