And the hits just keep on coming:
The Senate rejected a plan Tuesday to allow Americans to import low-cost prescriptions from abroad, handing drug makers a victory that may help secure passage of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.
The vote on the amendment by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., was 51-48 in favor, but 60 votes were needed to prevail under a special rule. Obama had supported the measure as a senator, but his administration echoed safety concerns raised by the pharmaceutical industry — which is supporting the Democrats’ health care bill.
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The nonpartisan Congressional Budget office estimated that Dorgan’s plan would have saved the federal government $19 billion over the coming decade. Dorgan says it would have saved American consumers four times that amount.
But don’t worry – the drug companies will still be allowed to import their needed items from places like China. Another case of a win for big pharma and a loss for you and me.
Democrats voting against the measure:
- Akaka (D-HI)
- Baucus (D-MT)
- Bayh (D-IN)
- Burris (D-IL)
- Cantwell (D-WA)
- Cardin (D-MD)
- Carper (D-DE)
- Casey (D-PA)
- Dodd (D-CT)
- Durbin (D-IL)
- Gillibrand (D-NY)
- Hagan (D-NC)
- Hatch (R-UT)
- Inouye (D-HI)
- Kaufman (D-DE)
- Kerry (D-MA)
- Kirk (D-MA)
- Landrieu (D-LA)
- Lautenberg (D-NJ)
- Levin (D-MI)
- Lieberman (ID-CT)
- Menendez (D-NJ)
- Mikulski (D-MD)
- Murray (D-WA)
- Reed (D-RI)
- Reid (D-NV)
- Rockefeller (D-WV)
- Schumer (D-NY)
- Tester (D-MT)
- Udall (D-CO)
- Warner (D-VA)
- Whitehouse (D-RI)