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Seniors need drug-plan information, not politics
Tweet Share on Facebook February 21, 2006 CommentI don't usually personalize stories this way, but this time, I will: My mom, a smart and sprightly senior citizen (she would never forgive me if I told you her age!), has not yet even inquired about whether she might be eligible for the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. I have asked her about it more than a few times and given her some suggestions about whose advice to get on it (her pharmacy, her doctor, her insurance person), and each and every time I get a response that says, "Yes, honey, I will do it." Only I get the feeling that she thinks it's waaay too complex and not that much of a benefit, anyway.
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Bush, Katrina, and bursting the bubble
Tweet Share on Facebook February 13, 2006 CommentAs we all sadly know by now, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina there is plenty of blame to go around–at the local, state, and federal levels.
The mayor of New Orleans was sadly out of his depth when it came to handling a disaster of this size. So, too, it turns out, was Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco. As for the feds–the folks who are supposed to be ready for huge disasters in this 9/11 world–they were just as bad. And the buck stops at the White House, in the Oval Office.
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Cleaning up the Hill — again
Tweet Share on Facebook January 20, 2006 CommentEvery decade or so, Congress seems to need to self-correct. Last time around, it was the House banking and post office scandals. This time, it's the Jack Abramoff congressional bribery scandal. When you compare the two, the notion of some members stealing stamps from the House post office almost seems quaint; the Abramoff scandal involves millions of dollars spread around Washington–and it's a total embarrassment for anyone who serves in Congress.
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Who'll be the parents after House GOP's family crisis?
Tweet Share on Facebook January 10, 2006 CommentIt's of more than passing interest to note that House Speaker Dennis Hastert decided to cancel a trip to India (dare we say a "fact finding" excursion?) to come back to Washington. Why did he return, especially since Congress is not in session? For two reasons: First, he decided he had to put the leadership stamp of approval on a GOP lobbying reform effort. Second, he had to make sure his job as speaker was not in jeopardy.
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Seizing reform after the sleaze
Tweet Share on Facebook January 6, 2006 CommentIn the wake of the Jack Abramoff plea agreement earlier this week, members stampeded to return his direct contributions–and even some supplied by his Indian tribe clients–as if that were a way to completely distance themselves from the sleaze. It was a great week for charitable giving, with House Speaker Dennis Hastert donating $69,000 to charities and former House Majority Leader Tom DeLaygiving away $15,000. And Democrats weren't immune to the guilt-by-association problem, either, withByron Dorgangiving away $67,000 and Max Baucus $18,800.
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Katrina blame game
Tweet Share on Facebook December 16, 2005 CommentIt has been more than 100 days since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, and the city of New Orleans is at least trying to get back on its feet. But as usual in Washington, officials are having a hard time getting beyond the blame game: State and local officials, testifying on the Hill this week, blamed the feds. Federal officials, in a closed-door briefing with House members, did take part of the blame but also said they were hampered by state and local officials.
