Byron Dorgan: “With a ``b,'' $50 billion; just over $5 billion of that savings is to the Federal Government; just about $45 billion of…”

“With a ``b,'' $50 billion; just over $5 billion of that savings is to the Federal Government; just about $45 billion of that savings is to the American consumer. Is that an illusion? No, that is the score we have. We come to the floor of the Senate and the question is asked: Whom do you stand for? Whom do you stand with? Some will say: You know what, we believe--they will not say that. I do not believe they will stand and say: We believe the current surprising strategy is right, by which Americans are charged the highest price. I don't think they will say that. I think what they will see is we think there are serious safety issues with this. Let me again refer back to the expert who would perhaps know more about this than any other American. I have heard things read on the floor of the Senate by the assistant this or the assistant that. The last assistant we had come over to a hearing I held had not even read the bill. That is some assistant. At any rate, we don't have to worry about assistants. Let's worry about Dr. David Kessler, who I think is the preeminent authority. He said we can do this; we can do this, and it will make the drug supply in this country safer.”