A GOP Press Release I can finally agree with -- sort of

Medicare Drug Program Marks Important Milestone

“With the enrollment deadline for the new Medicare Part D program having passed yesterday, thousands of Minnesota’s seniors are already saving money on the prescription drugs they need.
“Overheated political attacks from Amy Klobuchar and her liberal friends will do nothing to help our seniors fill their prescriptions and save money. It is my hope Team Klobuchar will end their shrill rhetoric and assist our seniors in taking advantage of this new program.”

- Ron Carey, Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman
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Enrolled Seniors Pleased With Medicare Part D:

84 Percent Of Seniors Enrolled Satisfied With Drug Coverage. (U.S. Chamber Of Commerce, "Nationwide Poll Of Seniors Shows High Level Of Satisfaction With Medicare Prescription Drug Plan," Press Release, 4/25/06)

85 Percent Of Seniors Say Monthly Premium And Co-Payments Are Affordable, 85 Percent Say Plan Covers The Medicines They Need, And 78 Percent Say They Are Happy With The Amount Of Coverage They Have Under Program. (U.S. Chamber Of Commerce, "Nationwide Poll Of Seniors Shows High Level Of Satisfaction With Medicare Prescription Drug Plan," Press Release, 4/25/06)

I’m going to go anecdotal on ya all here, but I got an email from my mother today and it looks like the program is going to work for her, save her some money, and she can still order her medicines from her preferred vendor. It took her some work to figure out how to get there.

But let’s not forget that this program is, economically speaking, a fiscal nightmare and a middleclass entitlement program of major proportions. Long-term, there's no way it stays fiscally viable. But for the Democrats to knock it is hypocrisy of the highest order. This is the kind of program they have been trying to implement for years and couldn’t get passed.

It’s a shame: a win for Republicans and it is something Republicans ought to be ashamed of.