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The source of this article is the Orlando Sentinel: http://tinyurl.com/58u8y EDITORIAL . . . an unnecessary casualty Our position: The U.S. Senate seems intent on denying low-cost prescriptions to Americans. September 11, 2004 The Republican leaders of the Senate -- who, as members of Congress, receive handsome salaries and wonderful health coverage -- have decided that making prescriptions affordable to other Americans isn't important. Several bills that would allow Americans to buy U.S.-approved drugs from Canada, where brand-name drugs cost one-third to one-half less, are being held up in the Senate. Yet they have support from sensible members of both parties. The House passed a bill last year allowing the re-importation of these drugs. But unless the Senate enacts a similar measure in the next three weeks, the House bill -- and the prospect of lower drug prices -- will die for at least another year. This could set up an ugly confrontation between the Food and Drug Administration and states and cities that have, in desperation, set up drug-buying programs with overseas suppliers. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is blocking the reimportation effort. He says he's concerned about safety. But that's groundless fear-mongering. He also says that time remaining in this session of Congress is too short to allow a thorough airing of the issue. Balderdash. Every argument against reimportation has been refuted, every scare tactic exposed. This is about protecting the pharmaceutical industry from the free market at the expense of the public. It's payback for the campaign cash that flows to Republican candidates. President George W. Bush needs to tell his minions to let drug-reimportation pass. If he doesn't, the voters should hold his party accountable. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn