Smith Notices Sea Change
by Andrew Smith, Candidate, House District 40

This past week I've been doing a lot of door knocking, and I have to tell you, something is happening, change is happening, and it's big. People are angry, they are angry about the Medicare increases, they are angry about prescription drugs, they are angry that the cost of health insurance keeps going up and up and they want new leadership. They want Democratic leadership. I truly feel that the Medicare increase was the straw that broke the camel's back. I feel a real sea change, something big, and something I haven't seen before.

I'm telling you, I've been door knocking all summer, meeting with folks from all over District 40.  I've knocked on thousands of doors, but I now sense something different, a stronger resentment then I've ever seen. The tide is turning, and our campaign is surging, and whatever it was that happened to cause this change is something big.
To learn more about Andrew Smith, Democratic Candidate, Iowa House, District 40, Tama and Grundy Counties, click here and here.  To contribute to his campaign, click here.


Iowa Hit Hard by Medicare Increase
Des Moines Register

Some Iowans may cut back on their coverage, and the state faces having to pay more for Medicaid, officials say

Sharply higher Medicare premiums announced last week by the Bush administration will have a double-barreled impact on Iowa, say state health-care administrators.

Some elderly or disabled Iowans, health officials predict, will cut back on their medical coverage rather than pay the increase. And the state of Iowa will have to deal with an even bigger crisis in paying for Medicaid, the health-care umbrella for the poor.

"Sometimes, one more peanut breaks the cart," said Eugene Gessow, the state administrator overseeing Medicaid in Iowa. "At this point, our ability to absorb additional costs faces an enormous challenge."

...$11.60 more per month

The increase will cost Part B recipients $11.60 more per month - an additional $140 or so annually - starting in 2005, bringing the monthly premium to $78.20.

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