My Nincompoop Senator

Folks,

Some of may have thought I was a bit over the top discussing prescription
drugs from Mexico, and what it meant to you, in the 5th week of opur class.
Well, it appears to be a national issue now, and my nincompoop Republican
Senator is trying to outdo my nincompoop democrat senator...details
below...think...if Merrck can make money selling for less overseas, why not
state why, and then bring those conditions (no patents) to our market?
Instead, the nincompoops intend to simply "order" prices down. Good luck.

Also, if you were an apple juice importer from China, you'd see all of your
hard work disappear this week as the commerce department slapped a 50%+ duty
on your product... this to help Washington Apple growers who publicly
admitted starting in 92 they overplanted trees with cheap credit and
subsidies...and now that they have ruined their business they have succeeded
in having the government punish US consumers to bail out the apple growers.
Take subsidies, ruin your business, ask the government for help...consumers
lose. We had to change to get here, and we can change back again...this
nonsense is only about 60 years old, so take heart!

PS: Nincompoop comes to us from the vulgus, based on non compos mentos. or a
"disordered mind". And now on to the Senator from Washington:


Local News : Tuesday, April 18, 2000

Gorton to offer bill to cut prescription-drug prices
by Dionne Searcey Seattle Times Olympia bureau
With U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton planning to introduce a bill next week aimed at
lowering prescription-drug prices, the cost of health care is shaping up as
a dominant theme both nationally and locally in next fall's elections.
The Washington Republican, generally a reliable business ally, shocked the
pharmaceutical industry when he announced his proposal to end
prescription-drug "price discrimination" against U.S. consumers.
His proposal, still being drafted, would ban drug companies from charging
more for their products in the United States than they do in other countries,
such as Mexico and Canada. Many Americans, particularly seniors, cross the
borders in search of cheaper drugs.
By spreading out the costs geographically, Gorton predicted drug prices
would rise in neighboring countries while falling here.
Gorton said he also might support a bill already introduced that would let
pharmacists travel to Canada or elsewhere, buy cheaper drugs and return to
the United States to sell them at lower prices.
Opponents say those plans wouldn't significantly lower prescription costs.
But they have rattled pharmaceutical companies, which fear smaller profits,
money that pays for expensive research and development of new drugs.
"I've put this out as a solution to unjustified discrimination against
American consumers," said Gorton, who pitched his plan yesterday at Overlake
Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue. "If (pharmaceutical) companies can come
up with a better idea to end discrimination, I'll be happy to accept it.
"Americans pay 100 percent of the cost of all research and development for
all prescription drugs. Why don't we just simply pass a law that says they
can't discriminate and can't charge a higher price than they do in Canada
and elsewhere?"
With Democratic state Insurance Commissioner Deborah Senn, who has
cultivated an image as a champion for consumers on health care, vying for
the Democratic Senate nomination, drug prices and other health-care issues
are already on center stage in the race.
Rod Shafer, executive director of the Washington State Pharmacists
Association, said he is certain that Gorton's proposal is driven by Senn's
candidacy. "We're going to hear a lot of background noise in this race about
health care and prescriptions," he said.
On Saturday, both Senn and the other announced Democratic candidate,
high-tech millionaire and former Congresswoman Maria Cantwell, tried to woo
union support at the state labor convention by saying they would fight for
cheaper prescription drugs.
Senn told the crowd that her 85-year-old mother can't afford the $500 a
month she pays for prescription drugs to treat a heart condition.
For the past two years, Senn has offered measures in the Legislature that
would have extended discounts on drugs to senior citizens on Medicare.
And Cantwell said, "I can get my dog the same medicine (that humans use)
and pay a cheaper price."
Both Senn's and Cantwell's campaigns pointed out that Gorton has voted
against measures that would have helped consumers battle rising health-care
costs.
Gorton acknowledged that his proposal sent drug companies "into orbit" and
is unusual for a senator who generally supports free-market solutions. He
also has accepted thousands in campaign donations from big drug companies
and biotechnology firms.
"These other proposals (in Congress) have been introduced by members more
liberal than me. When a mainline Republican introduces this, they sit up and
take notice," he said. "But there is a problem. Americans are being
discriminated against."
During his recent crusade for lower prices, Gorton has called drug
companies "health-care villains" and said their pricing policies are
backward.
Companies defend their high prices, saying it's the only way to recoup
research costs that produce life-saving drugs.
"These are huge advances in saving people's lives and improving quality of
life," said J. Thomas Ranken, president and chief executive officer of
Seattle-based Axio Research, a biotech firm.
"In a perfect world, they'd all be free and we'd have free access. I'd
rather be alive and poor than dead and save money."


****

Arrggghhh...false dilemma!!! We can be alive, healthy and wealthy...no
wonder the nincompoops can best the pharmaceutical PR dept's!


John

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