June 26, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 152, Pt. 9 12529 isn’t the only part of the prescription Federal arbitrary standards for the that drug prices jumped up in the first drug arena where there is no oppor- formularies that make judgments quarter of this year just as the Medi- tunity to hold down the cost of medi- about medicine would be a mistake. care Part D Program was going into ef- cine. Everybody else bargains today for Under our legislation, we specifically fect. the cost of medicine. That is true for say we will lift the restriction on bar- Finally, we understand that on the any manufacturing in North Carolina. gaining power so the Government will Senate calendar there is not going to It is true in Oregon. It is true any- not be the only part of the health care be a time for every possible issue to be where. Nobody ties their hands behind sector that is not trying to get value considered. In the case of energy and their back when it comes to trying to for the dollar. But our amendment said health care, there are hundreds of bills get the full value for their dollar in the no price controls and no uniform, one- in both areas, both energy and medical health care sector. The only one who size-fits-all formulary that, for all services, that have been introduced by has their hands tied behind their back practical purposes, would be a back- Senators of both parties. My hope is is the Federal Government when it door set of price controls. that a handful of these issues can be comes to prescription medicine pur- These two studies from AARP and moved to the head of the queue. The chased under the Part D Medicare Pro- Families USA are extremely alarming real measure for consideration ought gram. because the theory behind the Medi- to be significant bipartisan support. My sense is that this is another area care prescription drug program was In the areas I have talked about this where, with significant bipartisan sup- that having a variety of plans in the afternoon, that test has been met. The port, Congress can move ahead. On the private sector would produce competi- other body has already passed efforts question of lifting the restriction so tion, and competition would serve to to reduce these needless oil subsidies, that Medicare can bargain to hold hold down the cost of medicine. Now essentially passed the very thing I down the cost of medicine, Senator there is concrete proof that competi- talked about on the floor of the Senate SNOWE and I got 54 votes for our bipar- tion alone is not serving to be an ade- for 5 hours. A majority of Senators tisan proposal to change the law. Once quate strategy for containing the cost have voted for the effort Senator again, significant bipartisan support of medicine. That is why the bipartisan SNOWE and I have spearheaded to hold was given for a major change that will amendment Senator SNOWE and I have down the cost of medicine. There are help taxpayers and consumers. been pursuing since the prescription opportunities, at a time when the My sense is the price increases in drug program went into effect several country is looking at the partisanship prescription drugs we are seeing today years ago is much needed. coming from Washington, DC, to bring is because there are few restraints on When you have these higher prescrip- the Senate together around good and the prices that can be charged. There tion drug prices, premiums seniors bipartisan legislation that addresses are what are called PBMs, pharma- have to pay almost always bump up. the pocketbook concerns of the Amer- ceutical benefit managers. They have a Let’s think about what happens if you ican people. That is why I have come to role to play. It can be a useful one. But bump up the premiums the seniors pay the Chamber to talk about how we can if we are really going to make sure we for Medicare Part D. One of the things make a difference working together for are using all the tools to hold down the I have seen in my years of working the public. cost of medicine, the Government with older people—it goes back to my It is my intention to come back in ought to have authority to say, if the days when I was director of the Gray the weeks ahead to talk about similar private sector isn’t going to give a fair Panthers—is you jack up the premiums efforts that can actually be passed in shake to seniors and taxpayers, there on seniors and, as sure as the night fol- the Senate before the session wraps up ought to be backup authority. The lows the day, you will get fewer seniors and constitute the kind of good govern- Government should be able to say: We enrolling in the program. ment the American people expect from are going to now make it clear that We understand that if this program is the Senate. there is an opportunity to bargain and going to be successful over the long I yield the floor and suggest the ab- do what everybody else in America term, you have to get more seniors sence of a quorum. does to hold down the cost of medicine. signed up. You have to get more sen- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- The price increases we have seen in iors enrolled. But what happens when pore. The clerk will call the roll. the first 3 months of this year comprise you have higher drug prices as AARP The legislative clerk proceeded to the largest quarterly price increases in and Families USA found, will be higher call the roll. 6 years. It comes at a time when the premiums next year for seniors in the Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask Medicare prescription drug program is Part D program. Then all of a sudden, unanimous consent that the order for going into effect. The prices jumped with higher prices and higher pre- the quorum call be rescinded. something like four times the general miums, what will happen is fewer sen- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- inflation rate. We are seeing, right at a iors will sign up for the program. And pore. Without objection, it is so or- key time when the Medicare prescrip- without them enrolling in this pro- dered. tion drug program is getting off the gram, Part D will not be the success we f ground, prices go up four times faster all would like to it to be, especially CONCLUSION OF MORNING than the inflation rate. We are seeing those of us who voted for it. BUSINESS the biggest quarterly price increases in I wanted to take a few minutes today The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- 6 years. That makes the case for the to talk about two issues: the question pore. Morning business is now closed. Congress looking at a bipartisan way of needless oil company subsidies, an to beef up opportunities to contain the effort Senator KYL and I have spear- f cost of prescription drug medicine. headed that has significant bipartisan FLAG DESECRATION AMENDMENT support for saving taxpayers money, In the Snowe-Wyden legislation The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- getting us on track for a fresh, new en- which received 54 votes, we specifically pore. Under the previous order, the ergy policy that can truly make us free state that there can be no price con- hour of 4 p.m. having arrived, the Sen- of our dependence on foreign oil; and trols and no uniform formulary which ate will proceed to the immediate con- this question of prescription drug costs would be, in effect, a backdoor Federal sideration of S.J. Res. 12, which the where, as well. There is significant bi- price control. I know the Senator from clerk will report. North Carolina has been interested in partisan support to put bargaining The legislative clerk read as follows: the question of what will happen to re- power in Medicare. The Snowe-Wyden A joint resolution (S.J. Res. 12) proposing search, what will happen to innovation. amendment received 54 votes the last an amendment to the Constitution of the I happen to share the view of the Sen- time the Senate voted on it. There is a United States authorizing Congress to pro- ator from North Carolina that to come real role for the Senate to play at this hibit the physical desecration of the flag of up with big price control regimes and key time now that it has been reported the United States. VerDate Sep 11 2014 09:15 Mar 27, 2017 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\FDSYS\BOUNDRECORD\BR26JN06.DAT BR26JN06 ejoyner on DSK30MW082PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE 12530 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 152, Pt. 9 June 26, 2006 The Senate proceeded to consider the volved. It is the decision by the Su- false statements of fact, but that indi- joint resolution (S.J. Res. 12) proposing preme Court, it is the decision where vidual may be taken to a court of law, an amendment to the Constitution of any one of five made a majority. It is sued, and damages collected for slan- the United States authorizing Congress that difference of opinion that is at der, verbal false statements of fact, or to prohibit the physical desecration of issue, and it is important to note that libel, written false statements of fact.