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Prescription Plan Stalls in Senate

Aired July 16, 2002 - 14:43   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A new prescription plan appears stalled in the Senate, at least for right now. Debate was supposed to start this morning on a generic drug bill, but the talks ended before they began.

Congressional correspondent Jonathan Karl joins us now, with more on the drug debate -- Jon.

JONATHAN KARL, CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, this is an especially impassioned debate here because many members of Congress, and for that matter, the president himself, were elected in part by promising senior citizens they would do something to make prescription drugs more affordable, doing something by adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare.

Now what is happening is the Senate, just as they are getting started on this, they are facing procedural problems, and both sides are blaming each other for not getting anything done. This just as they are starting the two week debate.

First the Democrats. They are saying Republicans are too tied to the drug companies to want to get anything done.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Every single day that we fail to enact prescription drug benefit program that's affordable and accessible, available to seniors, we are violating that solemn commitment and promise to our seniors. Every day -- every day: today, tomorrow. And that is a solemn commitment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KARL: But the Republicans are saying it is really the Democrats that are the problem here because the Democrats are so convinced they have such a good campaign issue here they would rather see this thing lose and blame the Republicans and campaign on it than actually get something done.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LARRY CRAIG (R), OHIO: There's one conclusion you can draw: This is intended to fail. It is intended to place and show a political position going into the November elections. And who will be the one left out? The seniors of America, who will watch the political process -- they will be pulled one way or another.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KARL: Now, last year, in a budget, the Senate agreed to spend $300 billion dollars over the next 10 years on this prescription drug benefit and leave the details later to be worked out. Well, now as we get to those details, the two major plays under consideration both cost much more than that $300 billion. The Democrats are pushing a plan that would cost at least $500 billion over next 10 years. The main Republican plan would be $370 billion.

So Kyra, even as we get this debate, even as we face a budget situation far worse than last year, there is also the question of how to pay for all of this.

And by the way, one other thing here is that for either of these plans to succeed, because of Senate rules, they will need 60 votes, and right now, there's no indication that either plan can get those 60 votes -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Jonathan, what about the seniors. I mean, you hear about them having to turn the black market already: They get on the busses, they go across the border in order to get the drugs that they need.

KARL: Yes. And you see both sides bringing out seniors, bringing them into their press conferences. One thing about seniors, Kyra, is that senior citizens by far vote more than any other voting group. So it is a very vocal and very powerful voting group, and if there is a chance of anything being done, it will be because of the lobbying power of that very, very powerful voting block.

PHILLIPS: That is true. I can tell you, my grandpa is one of the most stubborn individuals I have ever known.

Jonathan Karl, thank you very much.

KARL: Sure.

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