Snowe/Wyden amendment being debated on Senate floor. Would allow

[flpoljunkie]

Medicare to negotiate and buy drugs in bulk. Let's see how the votes go. I would expect all Democrats to vote for this one along with several Republicans.

Could be interesting to see how many Rethugs side with the pharmaceutical companies and how many side with their constituents.

[babylonsister]

1. I hope this isn't another one that

bites the dust. I can't take anymore!

[flpoljunkie]

2. If this passes, the budget resolution may be voted down altogether.

Dubya's big pharma buddies will be very unhappy with their bought and paid for Senators.

[Pirate Smile]

6. I think Bush said he will veto (and this he probably actually would)

anything that gets rid of that provision making negotiating for bulk pricing illegal.

Isn't that insane but it makes it perfectly clear which side he is on.

[Mojambo]

3. Just look up who gets big money from Pharmaceutical companies

and you'll find out who is voting Nay on this.

[IronLionZion]

4. oh man......

I really hope this goes through. But you must realize we are facing an uphill battle. Big pharma doesn't have a stranglehold on the economies of Maine and Oregon like they do in other states like PA and NJ.

The pharma companies have more lobbyists then we have congressmen in Washington. They are extremely rich and powerful and regularly try to buy off our leaders and offer to bring jobs into their states and whatnot. Yeah, I'm from PA and Rick Santorum is their bitch.

We need to remind our leaders that they had better vote for this or we're taking them down.

[flpoljunkie]

5. Orin Hatch is a lying scumbag-said he never heard Tommy Thompson

say he wish he had been given the authority to negotiate.

Olympis Snowe just called the bastard out on that.

Anybody know when they vote on this one? Tonight or tomorrow?

[flpoljunkie]

7. Looks like the vote may not be taken until tomorow. Time to email our

Senators and demand they allow Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices like the Veterans Administration. Buying in bulk will lower the prices.

This is not price fixing, as the corrupt Republicans are insisting. They are lying.

Link to your Senators email and phone numbers:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[Pirate Smile]

8. This should be a hard one for a lot of Repub's to vote against

especially if they are up for re-election in 2006.

[flpoljunkie]

9. We will see. They count on the public's ignorance and inattentiveness.

Orin Hatch lied and called negotiating prices "price fixing"--which it is not. Harch also lied by implying that Tommy Thompson did not say right before the left HHS that he wished he had been given the power to negotiate prices and by drugs in bulk like the VA does.

The Rethugs are scum who lie to the gullible American people to do the bidding of their corporate sponsors.

[Donna Zen]

10. If this passes can it be taken out in committee?

The committee process is totally out of control.

72% of bush voters thought he was infavor of buying drugs from Canada to lower the prices.

Thanks MSM.

[flpoljunkie]

11. Certainly. I don't think it is in the House budget. Perhaps it will kill

the budget resolution bill altogether. This would save ANWR drilling. After all, we have not had a budget resolution pass in the last two years.

Perhaps there is a glimmer of hope here.

[lastknowngood]

12. Give it up people. It's over nothing good will come out of this joke

of a congress.

[hatrack]

13. This of course will fail - might help ordinary people - we can't have that

Given the tide of bullshit today, I'm pretty much beyond giving a single solitary shit on anything Congress does or says or proclaims or legislates.