Vermont: Douglas, feds in talks to make state a prescription drug haven

[Robbien]

MONTPELIER — It is no secret that the Bush administration frowns on Vermont’s congressional delegation and liberal leanings. But when Gov. Jim Douglas meets with Quebec Premier Jean Charest this summer, they will discuss the details of a dramatic proposal already making the rounds in Washington to allow the Green Mountain State to leave the United States, preferably to join Canada as its 11th province.

According to a draft white paper obtained by the Vermont Guardian, the administration’s plan would not only remove a state that has become a political nuisance well beyond its three electoral votes, but also provide a way to funnel low-cost prescription drugs from Canada into the United States. Although the document focuses mainly on whether Vermont should be allowed to join Canada, the paper, titled “Loud & Clear: Turning the Black Sheep into a Cash Cow,” also looks at other “options for disengagement.”

At one point, the white paper notes that encouraging Vermont’s secession — which is re-defined as “constructive separation” — could be spun as an example of the administration’s commitment to democracy. As part of any “phased release,” Vermont would become a hub for importing drugs from Canada.

The strategy is designed to allow the Bush administration to lower costs for health care programs, while technically living up to a campaign promise not to import drugs from our neighbor to the north. For the Douglas administration, the strategy will diffuse the pending Medicaid crisis and stimulate the economy.

http://www.vermontguardian.com/local/0105/PrescriptionFreedomApril1.shtml

yes it is April 1st, but this is only a small part of a pretty good long spoof article