[Pharm-policy] CRP on Drugs, Medicare & Campaign Money

[James Love]

CENTER FOR RESPONSIVE POLITICS
NEWS ADVISORY  June 15, 2000
tel: 202-857-0044, fax: 202-857-7809
email: info@crp.org, web: www.opensecrets.org

Prescription Drugs: The Issue

The issue of rising drug costs and the ability of seniors and the
disabled to afford the medicine they need has intensified the debate
over adding a proposed prescription drug benefit to Medicare. Add in a
mix of election year politics, and you have a war between Democrats and
Republicans over how to solve the problem.

House GOP leaders, hoping prevent the debate from becoming an issue this
Election Day, this week pledged to make drug coverage legislation a
priority next month. But, at the same time, the  pharmaceutical
industry, which has contributed more than $13 million to federal parties
and candidates this election cycle, has stepped up pressure on lawmakers
to drop the issue.

For an in-depth analysis of the prescription drug debate, including
contributions to members of House and Senate and a historical look at
money from the drug industry, click here to look at the Center's lastest
issue profile:

http://www.opensecrets.org/news/drug/index.htm

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James Love, Director           | http://www.cptech.org
Consumer Project on Technology | mailto:love@cptech.org 
P.O. Box 19367                 | voice: 1.202.387.8030
Washington, DC 20036           | fax:   1.202.234.5176
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