Copyright 2000 Newsday, Inc.
Newsday (New York, NY)
July 8, 2000, Saturday ALL EDITIONS
SECTION: NEWS; Page A11
LENGTH: 383 words
HEADLINE:
DRUG-MAKERS' PATENTS COST WOMEN, GORE SAYS
BYLINE: THE
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BODY:
Pittsburgh-Vice President Al Gore combined an appeal to women with
fresh criticism of drug-makers Friday, saying he would fight drug-patent
extensions that would be "bad medicine for the American people,"
especially women.
Wrapping up the fourth week of his "prosperity and
progress tour," Gore focused on bolstering the nation's health care system for
women, who he said face the most significant challenges.
It was his
second appearance this week in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state in the
presidential election.
Gore said Republicans in Congress are in league
with drug companies in pushing patent protections for drugs that cost consumers
billions.
"That's wrong, and we're going to stop it," said Gore, who
contended that women are the biggest victims of "price-gouging and profiteering"
by the drug industry.
"Women's health care often costs as much or more
than men's, even though women have fewer dollars to spend on it," Gore said.
Drug-makers argue that they need patent protection for new drugs to
recoup huge research costs, but Gore said consumers are being gouged.
Several Republicans have been pressing for passage of the legislation in
Congress. Some Democrats have been pushing for it, too, though prominent
Democrats have strongly criticized it.
Meanwhile, a new survey of
Michigan voters shows Gov. George W. Bush of Texas leading Gore in Michigan, a
state that should be in the vice president's column. The survey of 600 likely
voters, published Friday in The Detroit Free Press, showed Bush ahead, 46
percent to 34 percent, with Bush apparently benefiting from the campaign of
consumer advocate Ralph Nader, the Green Party candidate for president.
Nader drew 8 percent support in the poll, which was conducted June 28
through Wednesday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage
points. Nader was not included in a similar survey in mid-May that showed Bush
and Gore in a statistical tie.
Also Friday, Republican Party officials
said Bush had offered former rival Elizabeth Dole a speaking slot at the GOP
presidential convention. Her husband, 1996 Republican presidential nominee Bob
Dole, is likely to play a smaller role in the Philadelphia convention, which
begins July 31, officials said.
LOAD-DATE: July 8, 2000
