2008 California Election Forum

The Prescription Drug bill recently passed by the House and Senate is supposed to make medications more affordable for seniors.

The truth is, it will have just the opposite effect.

This antifamily, antisenior, antibusiness bill allows the government to negotiate with drug companies for Medicare. If the company doesn’t agree to the government-dictated price, Medicare won’t pay for the drug at all.

Here is what will happen in the short and long run:

1. The pharmaceutical companies won’t make a profit.
2. They won’t do the research and development for new life-saving drugs.
3. New drugs that ease pain and help improve life won’t be introduced.
4. There will be less competition, less innovation and less hope for the sick.

The short-term impact can be seen in the prescription drug program for U.S. veterans. 81% of the drugs aren’t available to our vets because of government “negotiations.”

You can’t suspend economic realities—and that’s just what liberals are trying to do. President Bush says he will veto the bill. Let’s pray that he does.