The Dorgan Amendment, The Last Hope, Debated (It Failed)

The last effort to make a poor bill better is currently being debated.

But as David Dayen notes the fix is in:

On the floor right now, several Democrats are highlighting this red herring of a safety issue, citing the FDA Commissioner’s letter that they could not assure the safety of imported drugs. Hysterically, Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC) is talking up the issue of counterfeit drugs moving into the US, which is almost entirely attributable to the fact that drugs are too expensive in this country, something reimportation WOULD HELP SOLVE. We’re talking about drugs made in the exact same factories under the exact same processes being sold at massive discounts in other countries because of their willingness to negotiate down prices. We don’t do that, and it’s somewhat absurd to piggyback on the efficient systems in other countries instead of doing the bargaining ourselves. But to allow Americans to pay $106 billion more dollars over 10 years for prescription drugs because of a clumsy argument is ridiculous.

Currently Lautenberg and Conrad are having a duel on the issue.

Watch Live on CSPAN2.

Update at 6:44PM: Dorgan Amendment is being voted on now, with the Lautenberg amendment, its fierce rival, going on vote next to nullify it potentially. 51 Yea, 48 No

Dorgan Amendment falls.......shows no need really for Lautenberg's rival amendment.