Democrat Senator Tom Harkin and his republican opponent, Congressman Greg Ganske, are quibbling over the structure of a new Medicare prescription drug benefit. Ganske supports the republican plan which sets up a system in which private companies would provide seniors the insurance for prescription drugs. Harkin says there’s no guarantee private companies will offer the coverage. He says a senior republican staff person was quoted as saying they wanted to make sure their drug bill was okay with the drug companies. Harkin says he wants to be sure the bill is okay with seniors.Harkin supports a democrat alternative which would have Medicare pay most of the costs of outpatient prescription drugs. Ganske says that’s irresponsible.Ganske says the democrats’ plan would bankrupt Medicare, and wouldn’t be immediately implemented either. Ganske says its important to move on the issue.Ganske sits on the House Commerce Committee which is debating the issue today.
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