[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 15, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       PRESCRIPTION DRUG DEBACLE

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, the Miami Herald got it right when it 
described the Republican Medicare prescription drug plan as an 
``unmitigated disaster.''
  For years, American seniors have been looking for help in paying for 
their prescription drugs. Republicans chose to pass a confusing law 
that forces seniors to go outside of their trusted Medicare to receive 
drug coverage from one of many private insurance plans. We have all 
heard stories of seniors leaving pharmacies without their drugs after 
being told their name could not be found in the system. Talk about 
incompetence.
  But then again, this prescription drug plan is another sorry example 
of how congressional Republicans have turned this House over to the 
special interests. Republicans chose to help the pharmaceutical and 
insurance companies rather than help the seniors who desperately need 
assistance with skyrocketing drug prices.
  Democrats have a plan to take this House back from the special 
interests so we do not have another prescription drug debacle in the 
future.

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