Mike Michaud: “today I strongly support the prescription drug bill that will be coming up today for a vote. I commend the leadership…”

“today I strongly support the prescription drug bill that will be coming up today for a vote. I commend the leadership for bringing this legislation to the floor as a central part of the first 100 hours. When the Medicare drug bill was being assembled, the pharmaceutical lobby convinced its authors to write rules into the bill that would forbid ever negotiating for lower-cost prescription drugs. These drug companies charged American consumers far more than anyone else in the world. This bill today would allow the Secretary to negotiate for lower-cost prescription drugs. This is a commonsense solution that could have enormous cost savings for seniors and the government. The VA Administration already does this effectively; so does every other industrialized country in the world. My own State of Maine has led the way in implementing this approach at the State level. I have introduced my America Rx bill based on Maine's approach in the past Congresses. I am so pleased that this bill today does that same thing, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.”