Political Quotes

“I want to visit with my colleagues for the same reason Senator Durbin, about 15 minutes ago, spoke to my colleagues about the high price of pharmaceutical drugs and maybe at least one little thing we can do to help moderate that price or at least inform the public, accordingly, in a better way than we have so far. Every American within earshot of a television has heard ads for prescription drugs. Almost every night, as I watch television, I see something along that line. These ads promise patient relief from nearly every medical problem, and informing the public is important for us to do in many areas. The pharmaceutical companies want you to know that their drug is on the market to help you. They want you to talk to your doctor about the newest drugs. As many of my colleagues know, I am an outspoken supporter for transparency. I hope it is one of my attributes I bring to the U.S. Senate. From the Physician Payments Sunshine Act to whistleblower protections, I am a strong believer that transparency keeps citizens informed, and, for sure, transparency in government brings accountability from those of us in government. Senator Durbin and I have amendments to the current funding bill which would shine transparency light on prescription drug prices. These amendments would allow patients and their doctors to make informed decisions. Drug advertisers want to tell consumers all the benefits of the drugs.…”