Posted on 10/11/2002 1:35:23 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
United States Senate candidates Norm Coleman and Paul Wellstone jabbed one another over prescription drugs Wednesday.
During a campaign stop in Alexandria, Coleman outlined his prescription drug plan to a room full of senior citizens at Nelson Gables in Alexandria.
Coleman took direct aim at the fact that Wellstone promised six years ago to get a plan done and has been on the Senate Health Committee for 12 years, yet has failed to pass a prescription drug plan for Minnesota’s seniors.
"If I were in the U.S. Senate there would be a prescription drug plan today that seniors would have access to," Coleman said.
He supports a "tri-partisan" plan that puts prescription drugs in the private sector. Coleman touts his plan as offering universal coverage for all seniors and one that allows them to choose the benefits that best suit their needs.
"I don’t want a government bureaucrat standing between patients and pharmacists," he said. "I don’t think the answer is greater government bureaucracy."
Wellstone, meanwhile, defended his position on prescription drugs in a teleconference call Wednesday morning with several media outlets, including the Echo Press.
Wellstone said he’s trying to pass legislation that would allow Medicare to run the prescription drug program, not private health insurance or pharmaceutical companies.
"My opponent is fond of saying we need to get the job done and I think that’s true, but for whom?" Wellstone asked. "I want to get the job done for senior citizens and other families. He [Coleman] wants to get the job done for the pharmaceutical companies."
The plan Coleman supports provides seniors with $370 billion over 10 years with a $250 deductible. Wellstone supports an amendment that provides $500 billion over 10 years with no deductible.
On its face Wellstone’s plan appears better, Coleman acknowledged. But it sunsets in 2010, which would leave the baby boomers without drug coverage at that time, Coleman said.
"You have to pass something with a longer-term viability," Coleman said.
Wellstone countered that he wants to provide the prescription drug benefit now and then re-evaluate it later.
Coleman said Wellstone’s plan doesn’t offer seniors enough choices of which prescription drugs they can use.
Coleman added that the tri-partisan plan isn’t "everything for everyone." Instead, there is something for everyone, something he believes Wellstone still hasn’t delivered.
Wellstone’s approach to a prescription drug bill is all-or-nothing, Coleman said.
Wellstone said the amendment he supports offers better catastrophic coverage, better co-pays and is more affordable for seniors.
Wellstone said that of all the prescription drug proposals considered in the Senate, his plan received the most votes, but it was blocked by the Republican minority leader.
To Coleman, getting a plan passed means working together.
He attributes the fact that nothing has been done to partisan politics.
"It’s the inability of folks in the senate to work in a partisan way," Coleman said.
He also believes there is a better chance of getting low-priced prescription drugs if they are in the private sector. There would be competition in the private sector that would bring drug prices down, Coleman said.
Wellstone disagreed, saying that the pharmaceutical companies are like a cartel and enjoy making "Viagra-like profits." He added that the companies are terrified at the thought of government price controls.
Coleman said he would limit patent extensions and increase access to generic drugs because the competition would increase quality and lower the cost.
Coleman also would support President Bush using "bully-pulpit" techniques to force drug companies to cut their costs.
And what about getting cheaper Canadian drugs?
Coleman supports "re-importation" or allowing cheaper drugs from Canada to be sold here, but doesn’t believe it is the end-all, be-all of fixing prescription drug problems.
He cited the fact that Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson has said the safety of drugs not manufactured under FFA guidelines cannot be guaranteed.
Wellstone said he has long supported reimportation and accused Coleman of "flip-flopping" on the issue.
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