Dayton aims to overturn Medicare ban on drug price negotiations

[Dickie Flatt]

http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/5202773.html

Sen. Mark Dayton will become one of his party's standard-bearers on Medicare reform this year with legislation to allow the health care program to directly negotiate prices with drug companies.

Dayton claimed Monday that the savings would ``go a long ways'' toward paying for beefed-up prescription drug coverage for seniors and the disabled. The bill would also fill gaps that leave some people paying for much of the first $5,000 of Medicare coverage.

``This is about people's lives,'' said Dayton, D-Minn., who's running for re-election next year. ``This is about literally the survival of some of our most fragile citizens.'' ...

``This has 2006 written all over it,'' said Steve Schier, a political science professor at Carleton College in Northfield. ``They're trying to help Mark Dayton out.''

[BayCityProgressive]

1. I really hope

Dayton holds onto his seat. He is one of the good guys and this is a great bill.

[CatholicEdHead]

2. Good bill

Most people will see how unfair this corporate welfare is and it will only help Mark.