MDE FROM THE ARCHIVES: KISCADEN ATTACKS HOTTINGER'S PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN
Kiscaden: Drug bill is simply politics
ST. PAUL -- A Republican Rochester senator says a prescription drug proposal by a Mankato Democrat is unconstitutional, and the bill was introduced in the name of politics.
"It's creating a political statement, not a policy statement," Sen. Sheila Kiscaden, R-Rochester, said.
She called a news conference to criticize Sen. John Hottinger of Mankato, who wrote a bill that would require drug manufacturers to give the same discounts to senior citizens that they offer the state, HMOs and other large purchasers. Pharmacists would be reimbursed by the state for the difference between the lower prices they could charge seniors and what they pay for drugs. The state would then recover costs from manufacturers.
"I don't know that I heard any Democrat or Republican who didn't say they were going to come back here and try to do something about the high cost of prescription drugs," Hottinger said.
The bill started its way through Senate committees Wednesday.
The measure is modeled after a Maine law, which is under review by federal courts.
"We're going to be spending money defending this that we could be spending on the people we really want to serve," Kiscaden said.
In addition to the Hottinger bill, the committee also heard testimony on a similar measure by Sen. Dick Day, R-Owatonna. He would require pharmacists who want to sell to Medicare customers to simply charge the same prices the manufacturers charge the state.
Opponents said Day's plan would hurt independent pharmacists.
"It's either 500,000 seniors or 80 pharmacists," Day responded. "Take your pick."
Kiscaden, who rarely calls a news conference, said Hottinger is promoting his bill for political reasons. She decried the bill as unconstitutional because it would violate the U.S. Constitution's prohibition on states regulating interstate commerce.
"I think Sen. Kiscaden needs to get another legal opinion," Hottinger replied.
Kiscaden said the Hottinger measure would slap price controls on medicines, but at the same time would result in higher drug prices as manufacturers find ways to recoup the money they would lose.
The Rochester senator and other Republicans say legislators need to wait until Congress acts because whatever Washington does to lower prescription drug prices will supersede state action.
"I think most of us are tired of waiting," Hottinger said.
Republicans generally favor expanding the state's current drug prescription program, which is
underused by the elderly.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Source: Rochester Post-Bulletin, March 15, 2001
ST. PAUL -- A Republican Rochester senator says a prescription drug proposal by a Mankato Democrat is unconstitutional, and the bill was introduced in the name of politics.
"It's creating a political statement, not a policy statement," Sen. Sheila Kiscaden, R-Rochester, said.
She called a news conference to criticize Sen. John Hottinger of Mankato, who wrote a bill that would require drug manufacturers to give the same discounts to senior citizens that they offer the state, HMOs and other large purchasers. Pharmacists would be reimbursed by the state for the difference between the lower prices they could charge seniors and what they pay for drugs. The state would then recover costs from manufacturers.
"I don't know that I heard any Democrat or Republican who didn't say they were going to come back here and try to do something about the high cost of prescription drugs," Hottinger said.
The bill started its way through Senate committees Wednesday.
The measure is modeled after a Maine law, which is under review by federal courts.
"We're going to be spending money defending this that we could be spending on the people we really want to serve," Kiscaden said.
In addition to the Hottinger bill, the committee also heard testimony on a similar measure by Sen. Dick Day, R-Owatonna. He would require pharmacists who want to sell to Medicare customers to simply charge the same prices the manufacturers charge the state.
Opponents said Day's plan would hurt independent pharmacists.
"It's either 500,000 seniors or 80 pharmacists," Day responded. "Take your pick."
Kiscaden, who rarely calls a news conference, said Hottinger is promoting his bill for political reasons. She decried the bill as unconstitutional because it would violate the U.S. Constitution's prohibition on states regulating interstate commerce.
"I think Sen. Kiscaden needs to get another legal opinion," Hottinger replied.
Kiscaden said the Hottinger measure would slap price controls on medicines, but at the same time would result in higher drug prices as manufacturers find ways to recoup the money they would lose.
The Rochester senator and other Republicans say legislators need to wait until Congress acts because whatever Washington does to lower prescription drug prices will supersede state action.
"I think most of us are tired of waiting," Hottinger said.
Republicans generally favor expanding the state's current drug prescription program, which is
underused by the elderly.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Source: Rochester Post-Bulletin, March 15, 2001
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