House Dems push on Medicare allegations

WASHINGTON, March 19 (UPI) -- House Democrats are seeking more information from the Bush administration on allegations Medicare staffers were pressured to withhold data from Congress.

Congress Daily reported Friday that in letters to White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and Office of Management and Budget Director Joshua Bolton, Reps. Henry Waxman of California, John Dingell of Michigan and other Democrats suggest the Bush White House likely knew about estimates from the program's chief actuary, Richard Foster, that pegged the cost to the GOP's Medicare prescription drug plan at much higher levels than those promoted by the White House.

Foster has alleged his former boss, program administrator Thomas Scully, threatened him with the loss of his job if he shared the estimates with lawmakers.

Those estimates far exceed the $400 billion number proponents used to gain the support of many fiscally conservative members, particularly in the House.

The letters asked the White House to provide all information on estimates prepared or considered by OMB and the administration, as well as phone records and correspondence between the Medicare actuary and Congressional Budget Office by April 5.