Russ Feingold: “I will vote for passage of the Medicare prescription drug bill that has been debated over the past several weeks. I do…”

“I will vote for passage of the Medicare prescription drug bill that has been debated over the past several weeks. I do so, however, with great reservations about many of the provisions in the bill. I am voting for this measure for two principal reasons. First, I believe that we owe our seniors a Medicare prescription drug benefit. I believe such a benefit is long overdue for our Nation's seniors. For years we have promised them we would give them the crucial help they need with their skyrocketing prescription drug costs. And I believe that it is finally time to deliver on that promise. It has taken Congress too many years to act on this pressing need. We have been debating for years about the best way to provide this benefit, and I am afraid that if we do not take the opportunity in front of us today, it will take us even longer to provide seniors the help they deserve. Our seniors cannot wait any longer. The costs of prescription drugs are soaring, and the financial toll they take on our seniors means that too often seniors must choose between eating and taking the medication that will help them live productive, healthy lives. Our seniors should not have to make that choice. They contributed to the Medicare system over their lifetimes. That system, which is supposed to provide health care to all seniors, needs to be able to help them obtain the prescription drugs they need to preserve their health.”