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CNN Live Saturday
House Passes Medicare Bill
Aired November 22, 2003 - 12:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, ANCHOR: The president is back at the White House, fresh from his state visit in Britain. But even before Air Force One touched down, he was busy pushing the Medicare bill on the jumbo jet's phone.
It works in the House. Next, of course, we'll wait and see what the Senate will do.
Let's go to CNN's Kathleen Koch, who is joining us from Washington.
How is it shaping up, Kathleen? Will it happen? Will it be passed?
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Catherine, the expectation is that there will be relatively easy passage in the Senate.
As you pointed out, the president himself had a direct hand in this morning's passage of the Medicare prescription drug bill in the House. He not only made those calls on Air Force One as he was headed back from his trip to England last night, but he also made one of his official -- White House official said it was more than a dozen calls all total that were made both last night and then this morning to lawmakers. Some of them who had been wavering and who had initially voted no on the measure.
A White House official says that in those calls the president pointed out the benefits of the bill that would affect some 40 million seniors and disabled Americans, urging those members to vote yes.
When the vote came this morning, the president put out a statement applauding the House passage, calling it historic. The measure is being now debated as we speak in the U.S. Senate, and the president in his Saturday morning radio address urged that body to also give it swift approval.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This Congress will decide whether or not seniors will have prescription drug coverage under Medicare. And this Congress will decide whether American seniors will have the best health care choices.
I urge all members of Congress to remember what is at stake and remember the promise we have made to America's seniors. The quality of their health care and the future strength of Medicare depends on the passage of this much-needed legislation.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
KOCH: One of the White House coups in his vigorous lobbying campaign for the Medicare bill was winning the support of the AARP. And that group released a statement this morning saying, quote, "The House vote is an important step toward fulfilling a longstanding promise to older and disabled Americans and their families. While the legislation is not perfect, it will help millions of people, especially those with low incomes and high drug costs."
But Catherine, opponents still insist that the biggest beneficiaries of this Medicare bill are not seniors, but insurance and drug companies.
Back to you.
CALLAWAY: All right, Kathleen. Kathleen Koch at the White House, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 22, 2003 - 12:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, ANCHOR: The president is back at the White House, fresh from his state visit in Britain. But even before Air Force One touched down, he was busy pushing the Medicare bill on the jumbo jet's phone.
It works in the House. Next, of course, we'll wait and see what the Senate will do.
Let's go to CNN's Kathleen Koch, who is joining us from Washington.
How is it shaping up, Kathleen? Will it happen? Will it be passed?
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Catherine, the expectation is that there will be relatively easy passage in the Senate.
As you pointed out, the president himself had a direct hand in this morning's passage of the Medicare prescription drug bill in the House. He not only made those calls on Air Force One as he was headed back from his trip to England last night, but he also made one of his official -- White House official said it was more than a dozen calls all total that were made both last night and then this morning to lawmakers. Some of them who had been wavering and who had initially voted no on the measure.
A White House official says that in those calls the president pointed out the benefits of the bill that would affect some 40 million seniors and disabled Americans, urging those members to vote yes.
When the vote came this morning, the president put out a statement applauding the House passage, calling it historic. The measure is being now debated as we speak in the U.S. Senate, and the president in his Saturday morning radio address urged that body to also give it swift approval.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This Congress will decide whether or not seniors will have prescription drug coverage under Medicare. And this Congress will decide whether American seniors will have the best health care choices.
I urge all members of Congress to remember what is at stake and remember the promise we have made to America's seniors. The quality of their health care and the future strength of Medicare depends on the passage of this much-needed legislation.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
KOCH: One of the White House coups in his vigorous lobbying campaign for the Medicare bill was winning the support of the AARP. And that group released a statement this morning saying, quote, "The House vote is an important step toward fulfilling a longstanding promise to older and disabled Americans and their families. While the legislation is not perfect, it will help millions of people, especially those with low incomes and high drug costs."
But Catherine, opponents still insist that the biggest beneficiaries of this Medicare bill are not seniors, but insurance and drug companies.
Back to you.
CALLAWAY: All right, Kathleen. Kathleen Koch at the White House, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
