A coalition of pharmaceutical companies which opposes Medicare coverage forprescription drugs has given Congressman Jim Nussle nearly nine-thousanddollars. The drug-makers call their coalition “Citizens for BetterMedicare.” The group has been running ads featuring a woman who declaresshe doesn’t want “big government” in her medicine cabinet. According tofederal disclosure reports, Nussle got eight-thousand-900 dollars frompharmaceutical companies in the first half of this year. Only nine othermembers of Congress received bigger checks from drug makers. Nussle saysthat nine-thousand dollar investment in his campaign may not pay dividendsfor drug makers as he believes people who don’t receive a prescription drugbenefit can be fit into the plan.The American Association of Retired Persons is pushing for prescription drugcoverage under Medicare, and the group recently hosted a meeting in Dubuquewith Nussle on the subject. A-A-R-P’s Iowa Director, Bruce Koepple (kep’-ull) says Nussle is in apowerful, decision-making position as a member of both the House Budgetand House Ways-and-Means “tax-writing” Committee.Koepple says A-A-R-P won’t be making a campaign contribution to Nussle toinfluence his vote, but will instead have A-A-R-P members in northeast Iowacontact Nussle personally on the issue.
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