J.C. Watts: “this House stepped up to the plate in March and set aside three hundred and fifty billion dollars in our budget for…”

“this House stepped up to the plate in March and set aside three hundred and fifty billion dollars in our budget for prescription drug coverage. What was in the Democrat budget proposal for senior citizens? Well, nothing. They didn't bother to offer a budget. But the absence of action did not prevent the other party from criticism and condemnation. It's always easy to yell and scream when you have nothing to offer. The plan before the House today is one that will lower the cost of prescription drugs and help seniors get the life-saving medicine they need. It is practical, realistic, and supported by the President. The Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act of 2002 is the right remedy for a national problem. In fact, the Department of Health and Human Services recently released a report that stated: ``The House Republican plan would provide real relief for seniors and disabled Americans: those who now pay full retail prices would typically see the costs of each prescription cut by 60 to 85 percent, and their overall out-of-pocket drug costs would fall by as much as 70 percent--in exchange for a stable and affordable premium starting at thirty-four dollars per month.'' The Democrat plan is a prescription for higher drug costs, enriching drug companies and fiscal disaster. It is an election year gimmick that will cost over eight hundred billion dollars over ten years and lead to higher drug prices and government price controls.”