  When the president signed the Medicare bill into law in December 2003 it was thought to be a victory that could be savored all the way through the election. But Richard Foster—chief actuary of the Medicare program—didn’t think so: he knew the estimated price of the legislation was $130 billion more than what had been claimed. When Foster made this estimate public a month later, people of both parties on Capitol Hill were furious; accusations of bribery, lying, intimidation, and political shenanigans ensued. Most important, it seemed to push public outrage with the congressional process to an emotional peak. This ABC News program captures the moods of citizens and their thoughts on what could have been a landmark achievement for America. (23 minutes) |