Less medicine, More bombs!

President George W. Bush's proposed 2007 budget seeks to squeeze $36 billion in savings from the U.S. Medicare plan -- coming mainly on the backs of hospitals, nursing homes and other health care service providers.

Bush's proposed savings over five years mostly come from trimming payment increases to hospitals while freezing payments to nursing homes and some home health services.

Companies that run long-term acute care hospitals like Kindred Healthcare Inc. will fare worst of all -- having their payment rates frozen for patients in Medicare, the federal health insurance program for 42 million elderly and disabled...

But here's the good news, if you like your death with a side inhalation:

Bush on Monday proposed a record $439.3 billion defense budget for 2007 aimed at fighting both unconventional terrorism and major conflicts with other nations if necessary.

The Pentagon budget sent to Congress represents a major increase over current defense spending of $410.8 billion as the White House seeks cuts in domestic spending. It does not include tens of billions of dollars in proposed new financing for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan...