AP: Dems Take Middle Ground on Drug Plan

[Eugene]

Dems Take Middle Ground on Drug Plan

By ERICA WERNER
The Associated Press
Monday, December 11, 2006; 5:47 PM

WASHINGTON -- House Democrats will take the middle ground on the
Medicare drug benefit, pushing for government-negotiated prices but
stopping short of creating a federal plan to compete with private
insurers, a lawmaker said Monday.

Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., said a government-run plan would save money
but is too ambitious for immediate action.

"That might draw a veto and then get us accused _ which I don't mind,
but most of my colleagues do _ of price-setting and all that. ... There's
a hesitancy to seem too radical," said Stark, a liberal in line to chair
the House Ways and Means Committee's health subcommittee.

House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has included Medicare drug
negotiation in her agenda for the party's first 100 legislative hours, but
she hasn't offered many details.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/11/AR2006121100953.html

[xxqqqzme]

1. they're afraid of the talking hair-dos

& the beltway pun-dunces then cause the people are hurting out here in the real world.

[rodeodance]

3. yup.

[pinto]

2. I'm looking forward to this debate and some action in the House. It's a core issue

for our party - and the country - imo.

[w4rma]

4. Good tactics. Save the government plan for a Democratic President and for later in the Congress. nt

[Warren Stupidity]

5. Oh no not the veto!

Run for the hills! Cower under your desks! Protect the powder at all costs!

So instead we will get some idiocy that bakes in obscene profits for Big Pharma, only not quite as obscene as the current corrupt piece of work.

[Vidar]

6. "Run for office" & "run for the hills": what the Dems do best.