The Washington Times
www.washingtontimes.com
Political foes use vote on
Medicare as weapon
By Amy Fagan
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published December 5, 2003
The Medicare prescription-drug bill will no doubt be a flash point in many congressional races in the upcoming election cycle, but the political fallout for some is beginning already.
The Republican Main Street Partnership began running a radio
ad Wednesday against Rep. Patrick J. Toomey, Pennsylvania Republican,
for voting with 24 other conservatives against the $395 billion
bill President Bush is set to sign Monday. Mr. Toomey, who said
the bill didn't adequately reform Medicare and was too costly,
is running in the Republican primary for the Senate seat of Sen.
Arlen Specter, whom the partnership backs.
"Pat Toomey slammed the door on President Bush, who championed
the Medicare bill," says the ad, which airs on a Harrisburg
station through Dec. 16.
Republicans are using the Medicare bill vote to criticize Democratic
challengers as well. Three Republicans challenging Sen. Russell
D. Feingold, Wisconsin Democrat, immediately attacked him for
voting against the bill, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported
on Nov. 26.
"I think Russ Feingold really turned his back on Wisconsin
by voting against this historic package," candidate Bob
Welch, a state senator, told the Sentinel in a phone interview.
Business executive Tim Michels and car dealer Russ Darrow, who
also are vying for Mr. Feingold's seat, said similar things in
the article.
Rep. George Nethercutt, a Washington Republican seeking the nomination
to challenge Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, wasted no time in
criticizing Mrs. Murray's "no" vote, the Tacoma News
Tribune reported Nov. 26.
"Clearly, this could be an issue in a lot of the competitive
Senate races," said Dan Allen, spokesman for the National
Republican Senatorial Committee. "It's one more issue Republicans
can point to and say we've accomplished something that the Democrats
couldn't."
In House races, National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman
Carl Forti agreed the Medicare vote will be a key issue next
year. He said House Democrats who already were vulnerable will
be more so because they voted against the bill. Those include
Baron P. Hill of Indiana, Tim Holden of Pennsylvania, Darlene
Hooley of Oregon, Leonard L. Boswell of Iowa and maybe Lloyd
Doggett and Chet Edwards, both of Texas, depending on the outcome
of that state's redistricting.
But Democrats say they still maintain credibility with voters
on the Medicare issue and predict it will be Republicans defending
themselves.
"The Republican Medicare bill presents tremendous opportunities
for Democratic candidates in 2004," said Rep. Robert T.
Matsui, California Democrat and chairman of the Democratic Congressional
Campaign Committee. "We'll make sure seniors understand
that its limited benefits are a Trojan horse for giveaways to
HMOs and drug companies that will keep their drug costs high
and threaten Medicare."
DCCC spokesman Greg Speed said a group of House Republicans who
were the target of DCCC Medicare ads this past summer remain
vulnerable in 2004 because they supported the Medicare bill and
represent areas with many seniors. They include Reps. Mike D.
Rogers of Alabama, Bob Beauprez of Colorado, E. Clay Shaw Jr.
of Florida, Max Burns of Georgia, Sam Graves of Missouri, Charles
Bass of New Hampshire, and Heather A. Wilson and Steve Pearce,
both of New Mexico.
"This is a campaign issue that is going to cut both ways,"
said Brad Woodhouse, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial
Campaign Committee.
Copyright © 2003 News World Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
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