Drug Benefits

Sen. Phil Gramm suggests that the problem with President Clinton’s proposal for Medicare prescription drug coverage is that it covers all Medicare retirees, not just those who need it (letter, July 6). I suspect an agenda here, as I am sure Gramm realizes that the popularity of Medicare and Social Security resides in their universality. Limit them to those who “need” and they become just another welfare program, subject to the attacks of conservatives like Gramm.

JIM CARROLL

Burbank

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It is good that President Clinton wants the government to share the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare recipients. It would also be good for Clinton to end the new corporate raids on pension funds.

Ending corporate pension-fund raids would not cost the government. It would have a far greater impact on the quality of life for the seniors who made a major contribution to today’s economy.

ERNEST LOPEZ

Redondo Beach