Political Quotes

“The truth is, Mr. Speaker, that we had an original bill that was going to use market forces to bring competition between generic medications versus name-brand medications. That was projected to save the taxpayers and the consumers and the elderly $65 billion over 10 years. This concept, following that same principle of competition as the price reducer, let the market determine best price, would bring, I think the gentleman just said, a little over a half trillion dollars to the consumers, the elderly, over the next 10 years. It is using market forces. Bringing that competition to bear on the market, that would bring prices down, and no longer would the American elderly and the American taxpayer be seen as the profit guinea pig for our pharmaceutical companies. They are making up the difference where they cannot get it in Germany or in England. They are making it up, the price difference, their profit margins, on our elderly. Therefore, our taxpayers are being asked to foot the bill in one of the largest fleecings of the American people we will ever see. The principles of competition will bring prices down, I think. Pharmaceutical companies have gamed the system from the patent laws, the laws as it relates to competition and globalization, and through the tax laws.”