Presidential Visit Sparks Political Finger Pointing Over Medicare Prescription Drug Plan

A visit to the Kansas City area by President George W. Bush to tout the new federal Medicare Prescription Drug discount card sparks a political accusation. Lieutenant Governor Joe Maxwell blames House Republicans for failing to push through legislation this year to fill the so-called doughnut hole in the federal drug plan. House Speaker Catherine Hanaway of Warson Woods objects to Maxwell’s accusation. She and other Republican leaders say time ran out for the proposal. The proposal would have retrofited Missouri’s Senior RX program to fill the coverage gap in the federal program. To save money, Congress left a gap between $2,200 and $5,000 in which the federal program wouldn’t provide coverage, the so-called doughnut hole.