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CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK

Medicare Bill for Seniors Victory for White House

Aired June 27, 2003 - 06:34   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The Medicare bill is seen as a victory for President Bush.
CNN senior White House correspondent John King joins us live from the White House.

A little bittersweet morning I imagine for the president with the passing of Strom Thurmond, and now also celebrating this Medicare bill, or two bills.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, we will get an official statement mourning the loss, the death of Senator Thurmond, from the White House later this morning. In the early morning hours, the president did issue statements commending both the House and the Senate for passing their competing versions of the Medicare prescription drug benefit.

As John Karl just noted, the president invested quite a bit in this. Just last week, he had some 40 House members down to the White House in separate meetings to lobby and twist their arms. In the end, of course, the president getting that legislation through the House by just one vote in part because of his personal lobbying.

The president promised this back in Campaign 2000. And remember, Bill Clinton had promised it back in 1996. This has been promised and promised and promised. So, the president thinks if they work out their differences that when he campaigns for re-election next year he can go to elderly voters, a critical block in this country, and say, I delivered.

There is quite a bit of debate still about the details, quite a bit of debate about whether this will be as effective as the president says. But Mr. Bush views this as his No. 1 domestic political priority right now, and it looks like pretty soon, by the fall, he'll have a bill to sign -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And, John, I understand there's going to be some activity in the Rose Garden today. What's going on?

KING: If you are annoyed by telemarketers, this is a day to celebrate. The president will sign into law today and celebrate a new policy adopted -- the president is celebrating a new policy adopted by the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communication Commission that essentially says if you don't like telemarketing calls, you can sign up for this "do not call list," and most telemarketers then cannot call your house, not all, but most.

WHITFIELD: All right, and that starts on Tuesday. Thanks very much. John King from the White House.

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