Health Care Reform: Easy and popular thing to do after recess

[rhombus]

Pelosi, Reid, and Dems should introduce a drug importation bill. This is a winning issue for the Dems. There was some talk that Obama wanted a separate bill. http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/white-house-blogger-call-axelrod-answ

If we're to make the HCR bill better, progressives should be pushing Dems in this direction.

[The Northerner]

1. Didn't lots of Senate Dems vote down Dorgan's drug-importation amendment?

I wonder if it'll pass if presented in a separate bill.

[rhombus]

3. Ok, here's what I know on why Dorgan's amendment failed

The Obama FDA wanted additional guaranteed funds to handle the influx of imported drugs. It looks like they'd get that in the submitted budget. Also, a few Dem senators (ahem, Menendez and Carper) were opposed to the Dorgan amendment , so attaching it to the Health care reform bill would have been 'poison', and likely shot down the overall bill since we needed 60 votes for passage.

Now that HCR has passed, the senate is free to vote on a separate, standalone importation bill. I believe this time they'd have the votes to pass this bill.

[greencharlie]

2. it's only logical...and I should hope so. nt

[ClassWarrior]

4. That and Alan Grayson's "Medicare You Can Buy Into Act."

NGU.

[bluestateguy]

5. Pharma's support is not needed anymore

They had threatened to sink the whole HCR bill if they didn't get their way on drug importation. Well now the bill is law and we don't need them anymore.

[karynnj]

6. Fantastic idea - let Dorgan introduce again and have Reid get it quickly to the floor

[RC]

7. Dorgan might reintroduce it again, but Reid wouldn't be in any real hurry to get it to the floor.

Maybe the next Congress.