Bush to seek cuts in Medicaid, benefits

Jan. 21, 2005 | WASHINGTON -- President Bush is readying a new budget that would carve savings from Medicaid and other benefit programs, congressional aides and lobbyists say, but it is unclear if he will be able to push the plan through the Republican-run Congress ... lobbyists and lawmakers' aides, speaking on condition of anonymity, say he will focus on Medicaid, the health-care program for low-income and disabled people. Medicaid costs are split between Washington and the states.

--- well, you can't be letting poor people get medical care, can you?

After two straight record federal deficits that peaked at $412 billion last year, many Republicans are eager to constrain government spending by curbing the growth of benefits. By law such programs, which consume nearly two-thirds of the budget, grow to keep pace with inflation and ever-larger numbers of recipients.

--and of course, giving antibiotics to dying poor people is the reason the federal deficit is so high. Doesn't have anything to do with tax cuts, oil-wars, how much it costs to kill 100,000 Iraqi civilians, and Bush and his cronies stealing with both hands and Santa-sized sacks for the past four years, now, does it?

They would face the wrath of doctors -- major GOP contributors -- should Bush propose limiting the Medicare payments physicians receive. Governors of both parties are already trying to head off any effort to trim Medicaid, while farmers, veterans and other groups would be sure to combat any efforts to curtail their benefits.

So, either the GOP fights him, or they lose the 2006 elections.

And frankly, as much as I despise what they've been doing, the idea of a Democratic Party running amok without any opposition isn't the sort of socially conscientious government I had in mind.

I had something more like the GOP congressmen coming together with the citizens of D.C., and jointly dragging that sleazy smirking sonofabitch out by his heels onto Pennsylvania Avenue, tarring and feathering him and putting him on a slow train to Crawford.

You could balance the budget by charging admission to that one.

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