Jackson Free Press

Gannett News Serviceis reportingt:

Congress could help pay for rebuilding efforts in Mississippi and other areas hit by Hurricane Katrina if it halted the $700 billion Medicare prescription drug program, former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott said Tuesday. Lott, R-Miss., told reporters his vote in November 2003 for the Medicare drug program, which has nearly doubled its projected cost, was one of two he most regretted in his 34 years on Capitol Hill.

The new Medicare drug benefit is scheduled to take effect in January. President Bush and House Majority leader Tom DeLay say the program is too far along to stop.

Lott was unconvinced by that argument.

"I never saw anything you couldn't stop if you made up your mind to," he said.

Lott made his comments before heading into a Senate Republican policy lunch, where the topic was how to pay for Katrina rebuilding efforts. Guests included DeLay, R-Texas, Vice President Dick Cheney and President Bush's budget chief Josh Bolten.

Earlier in the day, DeLay said rebuilding efforts in Mississippi, Alabama and New Orleans could be less than the $200 billion original estimate. He added that GOP leaders would still look for budget cuts to satisfy fiscal conservatives who want offsets for the Katrina spending.

Previous Comments

ID

134475

Comment

"Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott's house -- he's lost his entire house -- there's going to be a fantastic house. And I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch." I want to sit on Trent Lott's porch!

Author

Count No Account

Date

2005-09-22T09:06:42-06:00

ID

134476

Comment

hmm elderly meds or rebuilding? is anyone in jackson selling that bumper sticker? he regretted voting for that? between that statement and W's "more better" speech the other day I get closer to the other side with each passing day.

Author

*SuperStar*

Date

2005-09-22T11:41:45-06:00

ID

134477

Comment

Great sticker, Count. Have you seen those W stickers popping up around town with the red "Do Not Enter" symbol over it. I saw one on a doctor's car window the other day, in a BMW, I think. Anyone know where you can get them?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-09-22T11:55:11-06:00

ID

134478

Comment

Donna, my favorite sticker right now is this version of the W sticker. I am a nutty, nutty moonbat... pinko... whatever they call me and my kind now.

Author

Count No Account

Date

2005-09-22T14:42:13-06:00

ID

134479

Comment

I had not seen that sticker. Ouch. ;-) Don't worry: We took back the word "moonbat" months ago. And pink is the new black.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-09-22T15:07:10-06:00