May 19, 2006 10:12AM 

# Driven to Distraction 

By [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon) 

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Not 24 hours after President Bush signed into law the latest round of [tax cuts](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/17/AR2006051701277.html) (which have [no effect](https://www.cato.org/2006/05/11/starve-the-beast-just-does-not-work/) on the size of government), Republicans from around town [gathered to gush](http://www.gop.gov/video/38/default.htm) about their Medicare prescription drug program (which increases the size of government).

I’ll not name names, but there were a few faces at the GOP love-fest who, in their hearts, truly want to reform Medicare. The greatest tragedy of Part D might be the way it has distracted those Republicans from that purpose.

(Erratum: On a previous occasion, I accused the GOP of [throwing your tax dollars off the back of a truck](https://www.cato.org/2006/05/09/republicans-tripping-on-medicare-prescription-drugs/). It appears Republicans have been using a [bus](http://www.gop.gov/video/38/default.htm) rather than a truck. I apologize for the error.)

##### Related Tags 

[General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Health Care](https://www.cato.org/health-care), [Tax and Budget Policy](https://www.cato.org/tax-budget-policy) 

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