Reynolds: Bill does not save money, hurts seniors, veterans

Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds, R-Amherst, has slammed House Democrats for "ramming through a sham bill" that will reduce access to critical drugs for Medicare beneficiaries and potentially produce a sharp spike in drug prices for veterans.

This was the fourth bill Democrats pushed through Congress without going through the regular order of committee hearings and violating their campaign pledge to operate the House openly and with respect of minority rights, Reynolds said.

"For 40 years, Democrats failed to provide prescription drugs to seniors, and now Democrats have voted to restrict seniors' choice and access to life-saving medicines," Reynolds said. "One of the hallmark successes of the Medicare Part D program is the choice seniors have, which has helped contain costs while still allowing seniors access to important life-saving medication. Democrats chose to vote against protecting this choice, and now seniors are not guaranteed access to all of the medications for cancer, HIV/AIDS, mental illness, Alzheimer's and ALS."

Additionally, a Republican alternative, which Democrats voted against, would have prevented a spike in drug prices for America's veterans if changes were made to Medicare. The American Legion has come out against the Democratic bill noting: "Every time the federal government has enacted pharmaceutical price control legislation, the Department of Veterans Affairs experienced significant increases in its pharmaceutical costs as an unintended consequence."

Reynolds added, "The American Legion and the Department of Veteran Affairs both warned that legislation forcing price control raises prices for veterans, so I would hope Democrats would have heeded this warning before rushing headlong into one of their bumper sticker solutions."