Harry Reid: “On the prescription drug issue, when all else fails I think we should look at common sense. What we are asking is that…”

“On the prescription drug issue, when all else fails I think we should look at common sense. What we are asking is that Medicare be able to negotiate for lower prices in the purchase of drugs for senior citizens. This is opposed by the pharmaceutical industry, the insurance industry, and HMOs because they have a sweetheart deal. They can negotiate for lower prices but Medicare can't. You can throw around all the statistics you want, it is not going to lower prices. I call upon our common sense. Doesn't it make sense that Medicare should be able to compete with these HMOs and negotiate for lower price drugs? Of course. That is why AARP and dozens of other organizations that care about seniors, not about profits, are on the side of moving forward on this legislation.”