Recall how the Sen. Repugs blocked the Medicare Drug Negotiation Bill in April?

[rodeodance]

I just saw 60-Minutes so a great segment on this. Lets all send this to our Senators---as a going-on-vacation-present with
a reminder that they promised to try again! (see last paragraph).


Contact your Senators at:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/18/washington/18cnd-medicare.html?ex=1334548800&en=be51356f4e1529ba&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss


April 18, 2007
Bill to Let Medicare Negotiate Drug Prices Is Blocked (by Senate Republicans)
By ROBERT PEAR

WASHINGTON, April 18 — A pillar of the Democratic political program tumbled today when Republicans in the Senate blocked a proposal to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for millions of older Americans, a practice now forbidden by law.

Democrats could not muster the 60 votes needed to take up the legislation in the face of staunch opposition from Republicans, who said that private insurers and their agents, known as pharmacy benefit managers, were already negotiating large discounts for Medicare beneficiaries.

Fifty-five senators, including 6 Republicans, supported a Democratic motion to limit debate and proceed to consideration of the bill, while 42 senators voted against it. Such motions require a three-fifths majority under Senate rules. Without a limit on debate, opponents can prevent legislation from ever coming to a vote.

...................

Republicans framed the issue as a choice between government-run health care and a benefit managed by the private sector. The drug benefit is delivered and administered by private insurers, under contract to Medicare.

[rodeodance]

1. please help keep kicked and pass to your friends.

[rodeodance]

2. We need to keep the pressure on them. Dem and Repug alike

[rodeodance]

3. k

[rodeodance]

4. k

[rodeodance]

5. k

[liberaldemocrat7]

12. how will you pressure them?

How will you pressure them? Do you believe a simple letter asking them to do a milquetoast negotiation rule will help the middle class?

Part D must get repealed. Put the benefit in Part B with no extra cost and no coverage gap. Remove the part B means test.

Simple writing letters and calling congress will do nothing because you have nothing to take away from them.


If you want to pressure someone pressure the biggest pharmacy chains and threaten boycotts unless they get congress to repeal part D and replace it with something that actually helps middle class retired and disabled people.


Go to http://www.dmocrats.org

[mzmolly]

6. Here is a link to the 60 minutes website:

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml

[rodeodance]

7. thanks

[rodeodance]

8. Link changed to a better one.

[rodeodance]

9. k

[rodeodance]

10. k

[Junkdrawer]

11. Check out this "impartial" clip from the NYT article....

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.

But the vote also reflected ineffectual advocacy by Democrats, who were slow in responding to criticism from knowledgeable, well-prepared Republican senators like Charles E. Grassley of Iowa.

“Private competition works,” said Mr. Grassley, a principal author of the 2003 Medicare law. “The government has very little experience and a dismal track record figuring out what to pay for drugs.”

[liberaldemocrat7]

13. I consider Grassley another paid tool of the drug industry and the insurance companies.

Just as bothersome as Fat Billy Tauzin.

[RaleighNCDUer]

14. "...very little experience and a dismal track record figuring out what to pay for drugs.”

Oh, and pay no attention to that VA behind the curtain.