Sherrod Brown: “Recently the President of the United States announced a record increase, 17.4 percent, in the premiums that Medicare…”

“Recently the President of the United States announced a record increase, 17.4 percent, in the premiums that Medicare beneficiaries will be forced to pay, a record not matched in the 38-year history of Medicare. Why this increase? Because of the President's prescription drug bill, a drug bill written by the insurance industry, written by the drug industry. Twenty-three billion dollars in direct subsidies go from the pockets of seniors, with their premium increase, into the coffers of the insurance companies, $180 billion dollars extra profits for the already record profitable drug companies. And this has happened over and over on the House floor: middle of the night votes, literally a bribe offered on the House floor during the passage of Medicare. That is why Democrats are unveiling today the New Partnership for America's Future to take our country in a new direction, to take our country in a better direction.”