Rep. Sherrod Brown: Wrong prescription on U.S. drug costs

Wrong prescription on U.S. drug costs

William Safire asserts that drug prices are high in the United States because prices in other countries are too low to cover the cost of research and development (``Drug-research costs: Pay now, or forfeit the future,'' Commentary, Oct. 28). The Bush administration has made the same claim to justify its laissez faire attitude toward skyrocketing U.S. drug costs and its efforts, on behalf of the drug industry, to undercut negotiated prices in other countries. It's an easy answer. It's also the wrong one.

If the drug industry ``needs'' to charge U.S. customers more to make up for shortfalls in foreign prices, why is this industry raking in profits three times higher than the Fortune 500 average? Foreign drug prices are adequate. U.S. prices are outrageous.

The drug industry has donated $40 million to President Bush and other Republicans in the past three years, with tens of millions more certain to come before the 2004 election. Let's hope the administration's misguided attempts to blame other countries for America's prescription drug crisis is a case of faulty logic, not political influence.

Sherrod Brown
U.S. Representative
13th District of Ohio
Lorain
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/editorial/7419521.htm

You've gotta love the man!

Hey Spike...speaking of Sherrod Brown, we're scheduling a joint appearance (possibly a fundraiser) together! We set up the details on it all next week!

I am wondering how your campaign is going. This would be a good way to get caught up.