Seth in CA (for the summer)

They write letters

June 1, 2006 at 7:43 pm | In David Dreier, health care | Comments Off on They write letters

From the Pasadena Star-News:

I wish to comment on the article titled “Bush’s Medicare deadline backed” by Lisa Friedman that appeared in your newspaper.

In the article, Rep. David Dreier was quoted as saying, “The only people asking for an extension are people who violently oppose the Medicare prescription drug bill.”

Last Thursday, 35 nonviolent and respectful people demonstrated and left a petition with more than 300 signatures at Dreier’s office in Glendora. Our message was simple.

At this point, 14 million seniors have not yet signed up for the program, because it is costly, controlling and confusing.

Also, if they were not enrolled by the May 15 deadline, they may face permanent and heavy penalties, which amount to a seniors’ tax.

We simply requested that Rep. Dreier take some action to extend the deadline so that this matter can be addressed.

We also asked why he received over $130,000 from drug company lobbyists.

Gary A. Wolff

Arcadia

People who “violently oppose” Plan D? Did Dreier really say that? He sure did (this is a link to the Google cache which will probably disappear soon, so I’ve copied the entire article for posterity in the extended entry.)

“Deadlines are set for a reason,” said Rep. David Dreier, R-Glendora, echoing Bush’s assertion at a Florida retirement community last week that deadlines “are important.”

…

Dreier said he has encouraged senior citizens in his district to sign up and described the Democratic calls for an extension as disingenuous.

“The only people asking for an extension are people who violently oppose the Medicare prescription drug bill,” he said.

Continue reading They write letters…