George W Bush 2000

President Bush yesterday touted touted the new Medicare drug benefit for seniors in visits to El Mirage, AZ, and Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Bush said the new Medicare benefit "contains many options for consumers. 'The more options available, the more likely it is you're going to get what you want,' he said," as reported by the AP. The Wall Street Journal reports that according to White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan "beneficiaries in every region of the country will be able to choose a prescription-drug plan whose deductible -- the amount a person must pay each year before coverage kicks in -- is low or zero."

And the Arizona Republic adds the President "spoke for more than 30 minutes to the group, most of whom were senior citizens." He "stressed that seniors, as well as their children, need to become better informed about the new coverage plan that takes effect Jan. 1.On Oct.1, people eligible for the new drug coverage will start hearing about the plan's details."