BUSH ADMINISTRATION SOLUTION TO EVER-RISING PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS: JOIN WITH THE VERY INDUSTRY THAT GOUGES AMERICA'S SENIORS WITH THE HIGHEST DRUG PRICES IN THE WORLD

October 3, 2001

Today, Rep. Pete Stark released the following statement:

Today, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson chose to stand up with one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), to help launch a new drug discount program for seniors. Unfortunately, Secretary Thompson is standing with the drug industry instead of America’s seniors.

What America’s seniors want is a Medicare prescription drug benefit that affords them coverage for prescription drugs like the coverage we have as Members of Congress or Cabinet Secretaries. The program GlaxoSmithKline is announcing today will be nothing of the sort.

The pharmaceutical industry has spent millions of dollars fighting a real Medicare prescription drug benefit. With a good PR campaign -- bolstered by what appears to be a virtual endorsement of their product by the Republican Administration -- GSK is announcing this new discount program as part of their ongoing effort to block progress on a new Medicare prescription drug benefit. This program keeps them in complete control of costs. The discounts don’t appear to be guaranteed and they are discounts off of whatever price their company chooses.

The Bush Administration has already been sued for improperly developing their prescription drug discount card, which would have given the federal government’s official seal of approval to private drug discount cards. Apparently, since the courts won’t let them do that officially, they are now taking quasi-official steps to promote the same products.

CONTACT: Brian Mason (202) 225-5065

be sure to sign the guestbook<> before you leave