Obama says drug plan would save seniors 157 billion

[illinoisprogressive]

STORY CITY, Iowa - Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama speculated Saturday that his prescription drug plan could save seniors on Medicare $157 billion over the next decade.

The potential saving is proof that the nation needs to change the Medicare system, he said.

"There is no reason for this other than the fact it makes the drug companies more money," said Obama. `It's wrong that Americans have to spend more for their prescriptions because drug companies can spend billions on lobbying."

The prescription drug plan pushed by Obama would allow Medicare officials to bargain for lower prescription drugs prices, allow Americans to buy prescriptions from Canada and other developed countries where safe drugs are available and increase the use of generic drugs in public health programs like Medicare.

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2007/06/16/ap-state-ia/d8pq2kl80.txt

[Kurovski]

1. $157 billion is my deductible.

[Ethelk2044]

2. Seniors need as much help as possible.

This will be a good step in the right direction.

[Kurovski]

3. Obama would do well to take-on Howard Dean's take on the matter.

We're the only industrialized nation that basically ignores the health if its people.

While tossing a bone to the mother-lode of senior voters will serve to make Obama seem serious, Taking on the entire system would actually reveal him to be seriously concerned, and worthy of the presidency at this time.

We are in a crisis.

[Kurovski]

4. The article is gone. (nt)