Political Quotes

“Unfortunately, no. We have seen a consistent effort to put forward plans that are supported by the brand name pharmaceutical industry itself or by the insurance companies, but not those things that will lower prices and make health care more affordable and more available. Last summer, with a very rigorous debate on the Senate floor and a strong bipartisan vote, we passed a bill that would create more competition to lower prescription drug prices; it went to the House of Representatives where it did not see the light of day. Unfortunately, without the President's support and leadership, it will continue to be that way. We need the President to step up and say that the fact that prescription drug prices are going up three times the rate of inflation every year and that is too much. It is too much. Our businesses cannot sustain that. They cannot sustain seeing their health care premiums double. At the same time, if you are an uninsured senior in this country, you are paying top dollar. Isn't it ironic that of all of those who pay for prescription drugs around the world, the people who pay literally the most for their medicine are uninsured people, most of whom are seniors, because they do not have anybody negotiating on their behalf. They do not have Medicare right now coming in and saying: We are going to negotiate a group price. So they pay the highest price. Why wouldn't it make sense to have Medicare coverage?”