Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins are backing legislation that would create a prescription drug benefit in Medicare.

Snowe, who has been pushing for drug coverage in Medicare for several years, says the legislation is a “foot in the door,” an imperfect bill that does some good.

We agree – half way. The Medicare legislation is an imperfect bill, but the good it accomplishes is outweighed by the negative, boarding on abysmal, details. Unfortunately, supporters ended a filibuster Monday and the bill was headed toward passage.

Under the plan, the government will spend $400 billion over 10 years. More than $1 in every four would be spent on something besides providing prescription drugs to seniors. Employers get tax breaks so they won’t kill drug coverage seniors already have. Doctors will see the amount of money they get paid for Medicare patients go up. Rural hospitals will get more funding. HMOs and private insurance plans will get billions of dollars in subsidies to draw the healthiest and wealthiest retirees out of Medicare.

Drug makers see the biggest benefits. They will see demand for their products increase as the government pumps the remainder of the $400 billion into their products. But there are no provisions in the legislation to contain the costs of drugs. In fact, the bill specifically forbids the government from negotiating lower drug prices. Forbids it.

The government already negotiates prices when it buys medicine for veterans. It negotiates prices with doctors, hospitals and nursing homes. But drug makers get a pass. This bill is a gift to the drug industry that will be paid for by our children and grandchildren. Don’t be fooled by the current price tag. The cost of this legislation will skyrocket down the road.

And, the bill begins the process of privatizing Medicare.

According to Robert Samuelson, a columnist for the Washington Post, a 2002 survey of Medicare recipients found that 86.4 percent did not have a problem getting the medicine they needed, 9.4 percent had a small problem and 4.2 had a big problem. Translation: The vast majority of seniors are able to get their medicine now.

Both Snowe and Collins showed considerable courage and independence with their votes against the disastrous energy bill last week. They stood up against pork barrel spending, political bribery and bad energy policy.

The devilish details in this legislation didn’t deserve their support either.


Right direction


We are big fans of the Lewiston Maineiacs hockey team. If the crowds at home games are any indication, so are a lot of other people.

But an out-of-town guest looking for the civic center for the first time raises a great point. There aren’t any signs around town to help a visitor find our rejuvenated ice palace.

Robert Theriault, the arena manager, says the problem could be addressed by January. Work with the cities is progressing on sign design and placement.

The Maineiacs will be playing through at least mid-March, and maybe into April if they make the playoffs. Hopefully, there will be new signs pointing the way for legions of hockey fans.


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