Democrat - Trying to Negotiate Drug Prices for Seniors

Before taking control of the House last week, Democratic leaders briefly considered proposing a new government-run Prescription Drug Program as a way to reduce seniors' drug costs, according to Democratic Aides and lawmakers involved in the deliberations.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) and her allies selected a far less ambitious plan; "to require the government to negotiate for lower Medicare drug prices." This will come to a vote today. The Democrats side-stepped due to the large concern that the Pharmaceutical Industry would stall this complex change "which denied them a swift victory on a top consumer-oriented priority, Aides say."

Since when has anything that this government done saved money? The cost to Seniors under the current operational plan is lower than anyone expected and companies in the industry have come up with numerous plans for seniors. This is mainly due to the open competition market between the industry companies.

Major drug firms have been tried to transform their Washington operations by hiring Democratic lobbyists. This would allow them to gain access to new Committee Chairman, bolstering Democratic political and spending millions on a public relations campaign to overcome the image from a recent survey which stated that "the industry puts profits ahead of patients. Drug companies spend more than anyone on lobbying than any other industry.

President Bush said yesterday that "he will veto the Democratic proposal if it lands on his desk." The Bush administration has as long been in opposition of the idea of direct government negotiation with the drugs industry. They have asserted that it would impede competition between among private drugs firms.

Not too far back, August 22nd, President Bush vowed to "Wipe out Prescription Drug Addiction among Seniors. Now, is this crossing wires or what? Bush stated that "nearly three million of our nation's citizens are hopelessy hooked on substances such as Norvasc and Cardizem CD". On one hand the president seems to want to help senior druggies and on the other he is now saying that he is "trying to negotiate drug prices for seniors". So, which is it Mr Bush? A nation full of senior drug addicts or not? You have me confused!