Senate Rejects Two Proposals To Allow Importation of Low-Cost Drugs

The United States Senate yielded again to demands from the powerful pharmaceutical lobby and killed two separate proposals that would have allowed citizens to obtain cheaper drugs in the United States. Both the White House and Congress have been killing such proposals despite the fact that soaring drug costs are crippling many families. The vote was 51-48 on the first bill by Sen. Byron Dorgan (with 25 sponsors).

Early in the health care debate, the Obama Administration yielded to lobbyists to strip out such proposals from the national health care bill. To his credit, John McCain also supported the McCain bill.

Previously, Democratic Sen. Thomas R. Carper of Delaware blocked a vote on the Dorgan bill and the White House argued the industry line that such legislation could allow unsafe drugs into the market. They continue to maintain this position despite safeguards put into the bill by Dorgan.

Critics have charged that the objections are merely a smoke screen to protect a deal between the Obama Administration and the drug lobby to support the health care bill and fund $80 billion worth of health care reform.

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