Wake up! Medicare is peril

I'm amazed no one has brought it up, but a Medicare conference committee agreement is close:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/13/politics/13MEDI.html

The bill is a disaster for any progressive Democrat:

"Under the tentative agreement, the secretary of health and human services would designate four metropolitan areas and one region of the country for a three-year test of competition. The secretary could extend the test for another three years, after which it would end unless Congress intervened.

In the locations chosen for the test, elderly people could stay in traditional Medicare but would have to pay higher premiums if the program proved to be more expensive than private health plans, said Senator John B. Breaux of Louisiana, one of two Democrats who took part in the negotiations."

"Mr. Breaux said the tentative agreement included two other proposals sought by conservatives. Congress would have to vote on cost-control measures if general tax revenues account for more than 45 percent of Medicare spending. The program is expected to cross that threshold in 2016, he said.

In addition, people of all ages could establish tax-preferred savings accounts for medical expenses."

Indications are that the Democrats may fillibuster such a bill.  But would folks like Breaux, Baucus and Landrieu, as well as I'm sure Miller and Ben Nelson, supporting it, a fillibuster will be close.

Make no mistake about it, this is not an effort to "save" Medicare.  It is part of the right-wing's effort to privatize Medicare and Social Security.  Plain and simple.