OPINION:
It is becoming more and more difficult to read media coverage of the skyrocketing cost of prescription medications. Just a little digging and research reveals the reason for this price surge: Congress has a law on the books that “prohibits” the government and Medicare from negotiating prices with major drug companies.
Why would Congress do something so crazy and ultimately means the consumer will pay more? The answer lies in the fact that the pharmaceutical industry is making vulgar and obscene donations to Congress. The most recent publicly available data shows that a total of $306 million was spent lobbying Congress. And from 1998 through 2004 the industry actively lobbied 1,600 pieces of legislation before Congress, spending $900 million. It is sickening.
We need a concerted, unified, nationwide effort to combat this collusion. We senior citizens on fixed incomes cannot afford to allow ourselves to be pawns in a political game. Readers should remember the much-too-cozy relationship between Congress and the pharmaceutical companies the next time they go vote — and the next time they have to pay ridiculous prices for medications.
JAMES W. ANDERSON
Talladega, Ala.
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