House Votes to Allow Canada Drug Imports

[Robbien]

Wednesday July 14, 2004 12:46 AM

By IRA DREYFUSS

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House voted Tuesday to allow Americans to buy prescription drugs from Canada and other countries at prices lower than found in the United States, but the provision's prospects are dim to become law this year.

The measure, approved as part of a $16.8 billion bill to fund the Agriculture Department and the Food and Drug Administration for next year, would prohibit the FDA from spending money to enforce its prohibition on imports of FDA-approved drugs.

A subcommittee put it into the bill last month at the instigation of Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio. The bill itself passed the House on Tuesday by a 389-31 vote.

. . .

``People from all over the world come to the United States for their medical care, yet Americans are forced to go all over the world for their medication,'' said Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill. He said U.S. prices are kept artificially high by pharmaceutical companies.

The provision is not expected to remain in the final spending bill to be reconciled later by House and Senate negotiators, a Republican staff member said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4307606,00.html

[Miss Authoritiva]

1. Damn it. They're just teasing us again.

"The provision is not expected to remain in the final spending bill to be reconciled later by House and Senate negotiators, a Republican staff member said."


Cruel buggers, these elected officials are.

[skooooo]

2. How will the interface ....

...with Bill O'Reilly's call for a boycott against Canada?

[Spazito]

3. What I don't understand is...

why are the US politicians using Canada to avoid taking on the pharmaceuticals directly? In the long run, what do they think that will accomplish? I have no problem with seniors and those in need of drugs buying them in Canada but it is only a band-aid on a major cut, it will not solve the real problem, that of pharmaceuticals owning politicians.

[Robbien]

4. I believe you answered your own question

The politicians are owned by the drug companies so they cannot take them on. But the politicians are also being pressed by the American public to do something about drug prices.

This crazy Canadian scheme is the best they could come up with.

[TrogL]

6. It should drive prices down further in Canada

and give a boost to our pharm business.

[agates]

5. Fake strategic election year vote

"I voted to bring in Canadian drugs to lower drug costs..." They know it'll never become law but some reps will campaign on having cast the vote.

[HEyHEY]

7. Wanna buy some pot?

Oh, wait is that only LEGAL U.S. drugs?