PAGING DR. ORWELL

Highlights of the budget bill that just passed the Senate with Dick Cheney casting the tie-breaking vote:

Under the bill, college students would pay higher interest rates on loans....

States would have sweeping new authority to impose premiums and co-payments on millions of low-income people covered by Medicaid. States can also scale back benefits for many recipients.

For the elderly, it would be more difficult to qualify for Medicaid coverage for nursing home care if they transfer assets to their children or other relatives for less than fair market value.

Medicare would freeze payments for home health services and reduce payments for medical imaging.

Welfare recipients would be subject to stricter work requirements....

Aid that helps states collect child support from absent parents would be reduced.

Name of the bill:

The Work, Marriage, and Family Promotion Reconciliation Act of 2005

Freedom is slavery. War is peace.

(Hat tip: Senator Harry Reid, quoted on NPR this morning.)