Recent Updates in Senate Healthcare Arguments

Senate healthcare debate stalls on drug reimportation amendment.

The New York Times (12/11, A31, Pear) reports, "Debating an overhaul of the healthcare system, the Senate found itself tied in knots on Thursday over a bipartisan proposal to allow people to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada and certain other countries." According to the Times, Senate Democratic leaders delayed the vote on Sen. Byron Dorgan's (D-ND) amendment, "in part because they feared that the proposal would be approved, potentially blowing apart a deal negotiated by the White House and the pharmaceutical industry."

The Washington Times (12/11, Haberkorn) also notes that Senate debate on the healthcare bill "ground to a halt" due to the amendment. "Some Democratic senators are fighting [Dorgan's amendment] as they, the Obama Administration, and drug companies say the safety of foreign-made drugs can't be verified." However, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) "tried to set up a vote on the amendment late Thursday, but Republicans objected, saying they had only just seen the 100-page proposal."

FOX News (12/11, Turner) further calls the healthcare reform drive "in a holding pattern" due to the controversy over the reimportation amendment, adding that "Dorgan, incensed by the block, told reporters he is prepared to hold up any action on healthcare reform over the matter."

The Los Angeles Times (12/11, Hook, Hamburger) calls the proposal "seemingly popular," leaving "Democrats divided over whether they should bow to the drug industry's fierce opposition." Support from the industry "is considered a key to passage," according to the Times, and during earlier negotiations with drugmakers, "it was widely believed that the industry would oppose the bill if such an amendment were included."

According to The Hill (12/11, Young, subscription required), "Tension between the White House and Democratic supporters of the so-called drug reimportation amendment is primarily behind the delay, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) said Thursday."

After the vote was put off earlier in the day, Bloomberg News (12/11, Jensen, Litvan) reports that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), a supporter of the amendment, "accused Democrats of pandering to the pharmaceutical industry," saying, "If it passes, as it should, and allows drugs to be imported into this country, it breaks the agreement that the White House made."

CongressDaily (12/11, Edney, subscription required) notes that Democratic Sens. Thomas Carper (DE), Robert Menendez (NJ), and Frank Lautenberg (NJ) also have objections to the amendment. Still, "Dorgan said he expects to have the votes to pass his amendment." McClatchy (12/11) also covers the story.