SCHAKOWSKY: SHAME ON AARPS NOVELLI FOR ENDORSING A SHAM MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BILL

NOVEMBER 17, 2003

SCHAKOWSKY: SHAME ON AARP'S NOVELLI FOR ENDORSING A SHAM MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BILL

CHICAGO, IL - U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, said "shame" on William Novelli, Executive Director of AARP, for endorsing a sham bill that would give drug companies more than $130 billion and seniors a plan that will undermine the future of Medicare, do little to reduce the price of drugs, and cost millions of senior more than they pay now for prescriptions.

AARP's Novelli wrote to Congress in July that his organization is prepared to "oppose" final Medicare prescription drug legislation if it contains means testing, privatization and a large coverage gap. Yet today, he endorsed a bill that fails to meet the principles he spelled out in his letter to Congress four months ago. The endorsement was made before the bill was written.

"Shame on William Novelli, AARP's Executive Director, for endorsing a bill that violates all the major principles his own organization said were required to gain their support for a Medicare prescription drug bill," Schakowsky said.

Schakowsky added, "You think he would have learned from AARP's experience in 1989 when they endorsed the catastrophic health bill only to find seniors chasing Congressmen down the street until that bill was repealed. This bill is a disaster and his members and all seniors are smart enough to figure that out. AARP's leadership will pay a price, as will members of Congress who vote for this sham prescription drug bill."

"William Novelli not only endorsed a sham prescription drug bill before the ink was dry, he got on board before the pen stopped writing," Schakowsky concluded.