Getting ready for shrill debate on drug prices

WASHINGTON - Democratic party lawmakers have fired the starting gun in what promises to be a contentious battle over attempts to provide prescription drug benefits to senior citizens and control the prices they pay for pharmaceutical products.

Rep. Tom Allen (D-Maine), joined by 64 other Democrats, last week introduced H.R. 664, the Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act. It would allow pharmacies to purchase prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries at the lowest price available to any other customer, while drug marketers would have to sell products used by senior citizens at the lowest of either the lowest price available to any federal government entity or any bulk purchaser...