Internal report says Bush administration broke no laws in withholding Medi

[Judi Lynn]

Internal report says Bush administration broke no laws in withholding Medicare costs

MARK SHERMAN Associated Press Writer
www.tulsaworld.com
7/19/2004

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats say an internal Bush administration investigation into the new Medicare law confirms there was a coordinated effort to keep its true costs from Congress and the public.

The Health and Human Services Department inspector general said in a report released last week that administration officials broke no laws in withholding the cost estimates from Congress. But the report described the aggressive tactics that were used to keep lawmakers from learning that the administration had estimates of the legislation's cost that were $100 billion more than the president and other officials were acknowledging.

Thomas Scully, the administration's Medicare chief until December, threatened to fire chief Medicare actuary Richard Foster to prevent him from giving information to lawmakers. Scully, then the administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, "has the final authority to determine the flow of information to Congress," the unsigned report said.

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said Tuesday: "The IG's report describes the extraordinary deception of Bush administration officials to cover up the true costs of the Medicare bill. What they did was clearly wrong by any definition."
(snip/...)

http://www.tulsaworld.com/HealthStory.asp?ID=040719_He_EDHcosts_1

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Perhaps no laws...but his ethics are certainly questionable.

Not that this is the ONLY case of Bush telling congress only part of the story.

[HereSince1628]

7. Funny how Repukes are exquisitely aware of legal boundaries

and interesting how they lean on the "barbed wire" so as to feed on the other side of the fence.

Somehow being right on the brink of breaking the law, as opposed to comfortably operating inside it, is an important feature of American conservatives of the past 5-10 years. It might be longer, but my inability to filter it out began in that time frame.

I wonder how the Stanford group that studied the psychology of conservatism feels about this phenomenon.

[Old and In the Way]

2. Operative phrase: "an internal Bush administration investigation "

Next time an internal Bush administration investigation finds him responsible for any screw-up, please post it here....

[louis-t]

3. Same response as Halliburton subsidiary doing biz with Iraq

during sanctions: "it wasn't illegal". But wasn't it immoral, and unpatriotic?

[Cocoa]

4. well, it was worth it

it turned out to be such an AWESOME law, we can forgive Bush doing what needed to be done.

[Mountainman]

5. There will never be any justice as long as the repubs control government

The White House investigates itself and finds it did no wrong. The CIA is to blame for the war. Outing a CIA agent? No Problem. California being gouged and Bush's friend Kenny Boy runs the show? Forgetaboutit.

[Supply Side Jesus]

6. this just in...

The Fox's internal investigation report says that the Fox broke no laws while consuming hen after hen.

[TahitiNut]

8. "Lying to Congress" isn't illegal -- it's Republican Ideology.

No administration in the history of the US has been as unworthy of Trust.

[mn9driver]

9. The law is what *W's lawyers say it is.

Remember the "Golden Rule"?

Them that has the gold, makes the rules. In a Repub controlled congress, nothing will be done, until Kerry takes office. Then we'll have lots and lots of investigations--of Kerry.

:puke:

[lovuian]

10. I believe a Lawyer told Bush's Administration Torture was Legal

I think he probably wrote this report too

[MasonJar]

11. How can Congress perform its duty of oversight if the President

can lie whenever he feels like it?

[Democat]

12. Bush investigates self, says everything is great!

Fuck the media and Bush's own investigation, let's get some Democrats investigating this.