Democrats push for prescription drug benefit in spending bill

June 22, 2000
Web posted at: 7:10 PM EDT (2310 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Senate Democrats on Thursday rallied behind an effort to attach a prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients to a spending bill funding the departments of Labor and Health and Human Services.

The amendment was offered by Sen. Chuck Robb, a Virginia Democrat who is running for re-election this year. It calls for a government-operated benefit, run through the existing Medicare program, that would provide prescription drug coverage to all Medicare recipients up to $4,000 a year.

The measure was drafted by moderate Democrats in the Senate, and includes catastrophic coverage for senior citizens with unusually high drug bills. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, contacted the bill's co-author -- Sen. Bob Graham, D-Florida -- on Wednesday and suggested Senate Democrats take advantage of an opening to push the proposal.

Democrats have been using these opportunities to put Republicans, particularly Republicans running for re-election, on the spot on the issue which is popular with voters.

The House Ways and Means Committee drafted a prescription drug bill on Wednesday. It was approved on a party line vote and is opposed by most Democrats in the House. The legislation could reach the House floor by next week.

The House Republican bill provides coverage by offering subsidies to private insurance plans and creates a new government agency to run the program. Insurance companies have already said they do not intend to offer prescription drug coverage for senior citizens.

President Clinton criticized the Republican bill Thursday as "a false promise," one that would help drug manufacturers instead of patients. Clinton said the bill "doesn't measure up to the rhetoric" and would not be affordable for many seniors and people with disabilities.

"It's a benefit for the companies who make the drugs, not the seniors who need them most," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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