SUN CITY HILTON HEAD -- The recent Medicare overhaul seemed like a bad law to one local couple, but after attending Saturday's discussion with Democratic leaders visiting Sun City, it now appears even worse.

"It's a bait and switch," Dave Linde said.

"I just hope this bill sinks the presidency, this is ridiculous," his wife, Ann, said.

The Lindes were among about 400 people at Sun City's Pinckney Hall on Saturday afternoon as House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., called the law "a Trojan horse" and a "poison pill -- pun intended."

Since Dec. 8, when President Bush signed it, the law has been a source of partisan controversy. The 700 pages of legislation provide a federally subsidized prescription-drug benefit for senior citizens 65 and older. Originally advertised at $395 billion, it now appears that the program may cost at least $100 billion more.

Though prescription drug cards offering a 15 to 20 percent discount should be available this summer, the full drug plan won't go into effect until 2006.

The Lindes, both 75, agreed with two of the major criticisms of the bill aired at the meeting: That it doesn't allow the government to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies and that it doesn't waive the premiums and deductibles for enough low-income seniors because of a $6,000 asset cap, which can include savings, a home or an insurance policy.

"If you own a car, a decent car, you're $6,000 plus," Dave Linde said.

Another concern aired during the discussion, which lasted from 4:30 to 6 p.m., was the so-called "doughnut hole." Under the new plan, Medicare will pay nothing for prescription drug benefits in the $2,250 to $5,100 range, and this "hole" will increase over time.

House Minority Leader Pelosi began her speech by calling the legislation a "disservice" to seniors.

"It's really a cruel hoax on seniors -- a classic Trojan horse," she said. "Some will say it's a good first step; it's not a first step, it's a step backwards."

She said she was working with U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., to repeal the law and has submitted legislation aimed at accomplishing that goal. She said there were "serious" allegations that bribery was used on the House floor to pass the bill.

Last month, U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C. held his own forum near Sun City. At that event, he said he was pleased with the final shape of the law, though a lot of people would be disappointed. A health-industry executive who attended that forum touted the law for modernizing the current Medicare program while adding new prescription drug and preventive benefits.

Clyburn, 63, was asked Saturday why the AARP, a national association of retired persons and one of the nation's strongest federal lobbying groups, supported the bill.

"I think they supported the bill frankly because they're in the (HMO) business," he said. "The AARP, I think, lost sight of what they were trying to do here."

Clyburn said he wanted to work on legislation that was fair to seniors and pharmaceutical companies.

"The problem," he said, "is that we got a bill that is a bonanza for drug companies and unfair to seniors."