Vice President Al Gore is proposing an end to long-standing patents for popular prescription drugs, a move which would make cheaper generic alternatives available sooner.Drug companies get a “monopoly period” in which they are the only ones which can market new drugs. Gore says it allows drug companies to keep cheaper, generic competitors off the market.Gore also wants to change a provision in the drug law known as the “citizen’s petition” which slows the use of generic drugs. Gore says lawyers from drug companies are often the ones behing the petitions.Gore also supports expanding Medicare so elderly Americans have coverage for prescription drugs.