Political Quotes

“Mr. President, when I first arrived in this building a couple of years ago, Senator Klobuchar--one of the first things she brought up was the cost of pharmaceuticals, drug prescriptions for the American people. Well, this is the beginning of the end for Americans getting the short end of the stick from pharmaceutical companies peddling prescription drugs. For years, we all have been paying much more than those in other countries pay for the same drugs. But now, Medicare has taken the first step towards ending that stranglehold on lifesaving drugs. Let's be clear: This is not some unfair assault on global drug companies. Rather, this is a transition that is going to give Americans the same opportunity to afford lifesaving drugs as others in other countries are given. According to Kaiser Family Foundation, the U.S. spends far more than any other industrialized country for prescription drugs, from getting charged $150 more for Xarelto--which reduces the risk of coronary artery disease--to getting ripped off by paying $1,600 for Enbrel, an arthritis drug. Eliquis, a very common blood thinner--and one that I have occasion to use myself--prevents blood clots but costs an extra $514 out of pocket for Medicare enrollees in Colorado. In Germany, it is only $96. It is five times more in the United States. Why should we pay more than Germans and Canadians and the Swiss?…”