Because the Bush Republicans in the Do-Nothing Congress blocked Democratic efforts to fix critical flaws in the Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, the average senior will begin hitting the so-called "doughnut hole" in the plan's coverage right now, costing seniors and people with disabilities throughout North Carolina thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses. The "doughnut hole" is a result of the fact that the plan was crafted in such a way that Medicare pays 75 percent of the participant's first $2,250 in annual prescription drug costs, but forces them to pay all of their drug costs between $2,250 and $5,100.

According to a new report released this month by Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee, nearly 88 percent of Part D enrollees, roughly 7 million Americans, will fall into the doughnut hole, with the average senior hitting it this week. According to the report, 92% of North Carolina's 267,745 Medicare beneficiaries will fall into the doughnut hole. North Carolina's Bush Rubberstamps in the Republican Do-Nothing Congress could have closed the doughnut hole by joining Democrats in passing legislation to fix the Medicare Part D plan. Instead, Senator Elizabeth Dole voted to kill a Democratic amendment in the Senate. At the time, then-Senator John Edwards (D-NC) voted to close the doughnut hole.[Senate Vote 236, 6/24/03]

"The fact that the Republican Congress passed a fundamentally flawed prescription drug plan that only benefited their drug company cronies was inexcusable, but the continued refusal of Republicans to join Democrats in fixing this mess is an absolute tragedy," said North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Jerry Meek.

"Time after time, North Carolina Republicans like Senators Dole and Burr and Representatives Taylor, Hayes, Foxx, McHenry, Myrick, Coble and Jones have put partisan loyalties and special interest friends ahead of the people of North Carolina. With thousands of our seniors falling into a doughnut hole that the Bush Republicans refused to close, the need for a new direction in Congress could hardly be clearer. Democrats are committed to providing a new direction in health care policy-one that puts working families ahead of the special interests, fights to reduce the cost of health care, and works to create a health care system that works for everyone."