Closing the donut hole in Medicare D ... great. But why the fawning over

[Hieronymus]

Baucus?

[Cleita]

1. Don't know about "they bought us" Baucus but closing the donut hole and cutting the cost of

prescription drugs is a big coup.

[global1]

2. Big Pharma Won Again......

I think there would have been bigger savings for the American people if we were able to negotiate the best pricing for the prescription drug products with the pharmaceutical companies versus the so-called closing of the donut hole.

As far as I'm concerned - this is smoke and mirrors.

[flpoljunkie]

5. Yes, I fear you are right. Does this agreement take negotiating for lower drug prices off the table?

[Cleita]

7. I just read that drug costs have been cut in half. It's supposed to be

the subject of his press conference tomorrow.

[WI_DEM]

12. Some people here will not be happy with anything Obama does

[Hieronymus]

13. And some will be happy with anything Obama does ... no questions asked.

[old mark]

3. Congresspersons make a lot of "extra" money, get free perks,

and great benefits, but they all are egomaniacal. They are very extravagant in praising each other for actually doing their jobs, especially if there is some perceived benefit to "the people".

When one of them actually does the right thing, they act as if he or she saved the world.

They are a very disgusting group of people.

mark

[invictus]

6. You are absolutely right.

nt

[Andy823]

10. I agree.

I think, but until we can get some campaign finance reform, stop lobbyist money from going to congress, and get some people to run who will actually work for the "people", we are stuck with the disgusting bunch we now have. Change has to work it's way down to the bottom, or up to the top, whichever it is, it won't work unless the whole system is changed.

[sandnsea]

4. Maybe he'll go away

But the donut hole isn't closed and this deal sucks.

[Cleita]

8. From what I read, the people of Montana are fed up with him so I think he

will go away when he comes up for election again, but that isn't for a while. Also, let's hope they don't replace him with a Republican. I wish David Sirota would run if he's still in Montana.

[karynnj]

11. I agree - if the story posted yesterday is true,

the drug companies are simply covering half of the cost. The donut hole is actually increasing over time - with inflation - which obviously means half of the donut whole is increasing - though initially, cutting those costs in half helps a lot.

[DrToast]

9. Divide and conquer

It seems like Obama gave the drug companies a deal so they'd stand down on health care reform. It seems like he's trying to isolate the insurance companies.