March 4, 2003

Let’s be very clear, the Democratic Plan is about keeping Seniors in a trusted, effective program the Republican plan seems to be an untried model for privatization – doing no harm does not seem to be part of the Republican mantra.

Many of you will remember this bill from last Congress. The Democratic bill is completely administered by Medicare, a system we know works and seniors trust. While it was narrowly defeated last year by a vote of 221 to 208, I think we can close the gap and pass a real prescription drug benefit this year.

The Democratic bill is a very simple bill. What does is it say? You pay $25 a month, you get 80 percent of your prescription pharmaceuticals paid for by the government, and you pay 20 percent of the cost yourself. Very simple, very understandable, very plain. The same as Medicare is now.

On top of that, we will be arming seniors with the most potent protection from soaring drug costs. With forty million seniors banded together under the buying power of Medicare, we can begin to use the necessary bargaining power to rein in high drug prices. This is not price controls; it is competition and bargaining. Plus, there are pro-consumer provisions to lower drug prices through increased pharmaceutical competition and access to generic drugs.

No great big gaps in coverage, no formulary restrictions to profit insurance companies at the expense of patients, no penalties for having retiree coverage, and you get your benefits all year round.

The Republicans are re-inventing their proposal once again, undoubtedly hoping to find more gimmicks and legislative gymnastics to conceal their true intent: privatizing Medicare and forcing seniors to leave their family doctor.

Their bill last year was a complex scheme that would make Rube Goldberg blush. It was part of their larger agenda to privatize all of Medicare. That is why seniors were not even given a choice of getting the benefit through their traditional Medicare provider. And so it seems we will see more of the same this year.

As I have noted, the Democratic plan is simple; it is comprehensive; it is what seniors want. And, perhaps just as importantly it is fair, no one will get treated differently from any other beneficiary, this cannot be said for the Republican plan.

It is interesting to note, Republicans raise just one issue in opposition to our bill: they say it costs too much. Well, I can tell you that we can afford it. It is just a matter of perspective and priorities. And, as we approach the budget we will have to examine our priorities and those of our constituents carefully.

Seniors will spend $1.8 trillion on prescription drugs over the next decade. That is expensive. But we can do something about it. It is a matter of choices.

And the Democratic choice is far and away the best. It is simple, reliable and affordable. Something the Republican plan cannot begin to claim. Our plan will get to the heart of the matter and offer seniors a real choice rather than force them into a privatized plan.