Medicare Drug Prices Vote

Submitted by Mensor on Wed, 04/18/2007 - 9:35pm.

Buried in everything else going on today was the GOP blocking of a senate bill allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. The Bushco plan passed a few years ago was sold using deceitful cost estimates and also contained a specific prohibition against the negotiation of drug prices. Today's cloture vote was 55-42, falling short of the 60 votes needed to bring it to the floor.

Senate leader Reid’s response from the NY Times:

“The Department of Veterans Affairs is able to negotiate for lower-priced drugs,” said the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada. “H.M.O.’s can negotiate. Wal-Mart can negotiate. Why in the world shouldn’t Medicare be able to do that?”

Mr. Reid said the Democrats fell short today because of “the power of the insurance industry and the pharmaceutical industry” and their close ties to Republicans in Congress.

Dole and Burr both supported pharma over seniors. Who da thunk it?

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4.42857

Thanks for writing this

Submitted by James Protzman on Wed, 04/18/2007 - 9:38pm.

I was tempted myself, but I'm hogging too much space today.

It's no surprise that Dull and Brrrrr chose to support industry over We the People . . . and I hope they catch holy hell for it. This is just one more nail in Liddy Dole's coffin. She'll have to look every North Carolina senior in the eye and tell them she's helped keep the price of their drugs extra high.

Oh. I forgot. She doesn't look any North Carolina seniors in the eye, ever. She's too busy hobnobbing inside the Beltway to worry about the people who elected her.

Recommended!

PS.

Submitted by James Protzman on Wed, 04/18/2007 - 9:39pm.

This looks like your first blog post at BlueNC! Thanks . . . it's a good one.

First blog post ever anywhere.

Submitted by Mensor on Wed, 04/18/2007 - 9:48pm.

Thanks for the nod. Lots of lurking and occasional commenting here & DKos but have never ginned up the chutzpah. This vote just burned my rump and I didn't think it was getting noticed.

Blue South's picture

welcome into the fray

Submitted by Blue South on Wed, 04/18/2007 - 9:53pm.

I hope you will post more.

Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Liddy 44 Brad 33

Blue South's picture

Thank you

Submitted by Blue South on Wed, 04/18/2007 - 9:52pm.

I had heard something this morning about Bush saying he would veto the bill. Im glad they voted against it.

They claim that negotiation wont lower prices (i guess the market doesnt actually do anything) then they say that we cant negotiate because....well im not sure why.

Thanks, and good first post.

Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Liddy 44 Brad 33

Gordon Smith's picture

Bastards

Submitted by Gordon Smith on Wed, 04/18/2007 - 10:13pm.

This vote is indefensible, and I'm confused as to why the Dems brought it without the aid of the media. They'll need to try again in a couple of weeks.

The election didn't make the Zebras change their stripes.

momoaizo's picture

Been seeing commercials on TV by PHRMA

Submitted by momoaizo on Wed, 04/18/2007 - 11:50pm.

saying that negotiating medical prices is a bad thing...watch this video by their CEO, Billy Tauzin. Guess this is just another on the long list of users who have bought and paid for the two senators from NC!

No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.

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loftT's picture

I guess the Democrats

Submitted by loftT on Thu, 04/19/2007 - 3:10pm.

just haven't learned to keep the vote open long enough and twist or even break enough arms to get the votes they want like the last Congress did. Republicans rewrote the rules, so come on Dems use that POWER!

Hmmmm....so we need to look at the next reporting period

Submitted by Betsy Muse on Fri, 04/20/2007 - 1:36pm.

at which Senators had the most recent donations from big Phrma. This should be fun.

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.

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