WYDEN STATEMENT
ON WHITE HOUSE VETO THREAT
TO PROPOSED MEDICARE DRUG REFORMS
February 11, 2005
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released
the following statement this evening following the President’s
threat to veto legislation seeking to reform the Medicare prescription
drug benefit:
“Spiraling costs and the low levels of participation we’ve
seen so far may jeopardize the survival of the hard-won Medicare
drug benefit. Ignoring those obvious problems and threatening to
veto any solutions isn’t a productive or responsible reaction.
Making changes to contain costs and increase participation is precisely
what Congress and the Administration should be doing, so this benefit
can deliver on its promise to every senior. A bipartisan plan is
on the table to make that happen: the Medicare Enhancements for
Needed Drugs (MEND) Act I’ve written with Sen. Olympia Snowe
(R-Maine) would grant the Secretary of Health and Human Services
negotiating authority to get decent prices on the medicines millions
of seniors need. I’m willing to roll up my sleeves and work
on a bipartisan basis to save this benefit. By refusing any improvements,
the White House is writing a prescription for a program that cannot
survive. I hope the President will reconsider his position.”
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