Washington, Apr 18, 2002 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus says the tax debate on the House floor today was partisan and failed to address the need to create and fund a prescription drug plan that benefits American seniors.

“As happened last month during the budget debate, the tax debate once again found the majority leadership blocking all Democratic amendments that would provide assistance to low income seniors instead of benefiting the wealthiest Americans,” Congressman Kucinich said.

“The Progressive Caucus was once again prevented from offering an amendment to the tax debate that would have postponed tax cuts for the wealthiest 1% of Americans and used this money to pay for a real prescription drug plan that would truly benefit senior citizens.”

“I think most people in America would agree that this would be worthy of debate on the House floor. But the majority leadership didn’t care and they refused to allow this amendment an opportunity to be debated and considered.”

“With the knowledge that our seniors are suffering from exorbitant prescription drug costs, the Progressive Caucus again today tried to offer this amendment. The majority leadership had the power to bring this policy up for debate and a vote, but instead they used their power to prohibit debate and any vote. Where have our morals gone? Shouldn’t we take care of the young and the old, before the rich? This is a clear example of the majority leadership placing the interests of the elite at the expense of the average American.”

“The Progressive Caucus amendment freezes the phase-in of $180 billion of the Bush tax cut for the wealthiest 1% of Americans and allocates those funds to a comprehensive senior citizen prescription drug program that truly benefits low-income seniors. Our amendment also directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to require the drug industry to offer the best price on prescription drugs, and would have instructed Congress to pass a prescription drug plan that offers a $24 premium and an 80 percent/20 percent copayment structure with a maximum out-of-pocket expenditure of $2,000.

“The battle to help improve the financial quality of life for America’s seniors is not over. We will continue to fight for inclusion in the debate. A one sided conversation is not a debate, and does not work in a democracy.”