House passes Rx Negotiation Act 255-170

Thorgrim · 01-12-2007, 04:24 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House approved legislation Friday requiring the government to negotiate with drug companies to lower the prices of medicines for Medicare patients.

Despite a veto threat from the president, Democrats used their majority status to push through another of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's priorities for the first 100 hours of the new Congress. The vote was 255-170.

The idea behind the bill is using the sheer size of the Medicare program to generate steeper discounts than private insurance plans can muster.

"Forty-three million people can have the purchasing power to perhaps encourage these drug houses to give the government and the American retirees a better price," said the bill's author, Rep. John Dingell, D-Michigan.

'100 hours': Defying Bush, House OKs drug prices bill - CNN.com

Final Vote Results for Roll Call 23

All democrats and 24 GOPers voted for it

Another hard days work in Washington, Democrats getting stuff done

Scrum · 01-12-2007, 05:07 PM

Nice to see things getting done that the American people can get behind.

JaJae · 01-12-2007, 06:33 PM

Why did only 24 GOPers vote for this? What's so bad about this that they would vote against it? Is this an attempt at obstructionism? I have no idea why anyone would be against negotiating cheaper prices for drugs. The bill doesn't sound like it taxes anyone.

kinggovernor · 01-12-2007, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Why did only 24 GOPers vote for this? What's so bad about this that they would vote against it? Is this an attempt at obstructionism? I have no idea why anyone would be against negotiating cheaper prices for drugs. The bill doesn't sound like it taxes anyone.

But Republicans counter that there wouldn't be any savings. Also, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the legislation was unlikely to result in savings to taxpayers.

The program cost about $30 billion in its first year. Insurance companies offer competing coverage plans, and seniors may enroll in the one they like best. The administration announced on Wednesday that 23.5 million seniors had enrolled in stand-alone plans as of January 1.

Sounds like feel good legislation to me

Diesel66 · 01-13-2007, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Why did only 24 GOPers vote for this? What's so bad about this that they would vote against it? Is this an attempt at obstructionism? I have no idea why anyone would be against negotiating cheaper prices for drugs. The bill doesn't sound like it taxes anyone.

the prices and services of the medicare drug plan have been miles better then anyone thought.