Medicare

The pharmaceutical lobby joined forces today with the Senate's conservative minority and more »

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The pharmaceutical lobby joined forces today with the Senate's conservative minority and killed legislation empowering Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices, which would have saved us $30 billion a year.

Fixty-six senators tried to carry out the will of 85 percent of the public. But they needed 60. (The official vote was 55-42, but pro-negotiation Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid only voted with the conservatives for a procedural reason.)

How could our democracy fail to carry out the people's demands?

The drug industry's army of lobbyists and hundreds of millions in cash fed the obstructionist, anti-government attitude of the Senate minority.

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Today, the pharmaceutical lobby joined forces with the Senate's conservative minority and killed legislation empowering Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices, which would have saved us $30 billion a year.

Fixty-six senators tried to carry out the will of 85 percent of the public. But they needed 60. (The official vote was 55-42, but pro-negotiation Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid only voted with the conservatives for a procedural reason.)

How could our democracy fail to carry out the people's demands?

The drug industry's army of lobbyists and hundreds of millions in cash fed the obstructionist, anti-government attitude of the Senate minority.

As the first plank of the "First 100 Hours" package to be blocked in the Senate, the punditocracy will likely spin this as a "failure" of the new congressional leadership.

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CQ Today reports that Senate leaders remain "just short" of the 60 votes needed to break the drug lobby-backed filibuster of legislation empowering Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices.

The key vote to cut off the filibuster is still expected tomorrow.

Meanwhile, President Bush formally issued a pledge to veto the bill if it reaches his desk, seeking to keep Republican Senators in line.

Senators need to hear your voice, so they know there will be a price to pay if they side with the drug companies and not the people. Click here for our action page, where you can easily write your Senators.

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According to CQ Today, a Senate vote is expected Wednesday to try to break a planned filibuster against a bill empowering Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices. And Senate leaders are hunting "for a final few votes" to get to the needed 60.

Meanwhile, Bob Geiger flags this

Your voice is needed to drown out these Gucci-clad lobbyists. Click here to easily contact your Senators, and tell them to side with us, not the drug lobby.

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The Senate Finance Committee passed legislation last night lifting the ban preventing Medicare from negotiating for lower drug prices.

The bill garnered some bipartisan support with two Republicans, Sens. Gordon Smith and Olympia Snowe, joining 11 Democrats in the majority.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, was asked by CQ Today if Democrats had the 60 votes necessary to break his planned filibuster. Grassley said, "I hope not," indicating he is not sure he can succeed.

A vote by the full Senate is expected next week. The final outcome remains unclear, and your senators need to hear your voice. Click here to tell your senators: "Side with the people, not the big drug companies."

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The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire reports that the Senate's version of a bill lifting the ban on Medicare negotiating for lower drug prices, will be taken up in committee on Thursday. The expectation is that the full Senate will vote on it next week.

Washington Wire notes:

... it faces ... bigger hurdles on the Senate floor, where Republicans are likely to filibuster ... if Democrats are unable to get the 60 votes necessary to end debate, Republicans will have saved President Bush from having to veto legislation that seems to have strong public support.

It doesn't just "seem" to have strong public support. It does, 85% support in fact.

And Republican Senators thinking of filibustering shouldn't worry about saving Bush from any veto. He doesn't have to run for re-election again. They do.

The only way to prevent or break any potential filibuster is for your Senators to hear your voice.

Campaign for America's Future has an action page where you can easily write your Senators and tell them, "Side with the people, not the big drug companies."

More »»

The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire reports that the Senate's version of a bill lifting the ban on Medicare negotiating for lower drug prices, will be taken up in committee on Thursday. The expectation is that the full Senate will vote on it next week.

Washington Wire notes:

... it faces ... bigger hurdles on the Senate floor, where Republicans are likely to filibuster ... if Democrats are unable to get the 60 votes necessary to end debate, Republicans will have saved President Bush from having to veto legislation that seems to have strong public support.

It doesn't just "seem" to have strong public support. It does, 85% support in fact.

And Republican Senators thinking of filibustering shouldn't worry about saving Bush from any veto. He doesn't have to run for re-election again. They do.

The only way to prevent or break any potential filibuster is for your Senators to hear your voice.

Campaign for America's Future has an action page where you can easily write your Senators and tell them, "Side with the people, not the big drug companies."

More »»

The following post is a part of this week's TPMCafe B more »

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