SPOTLIGHT: IMPORTATION OUT
The Senate voted 51-48 yesterday to reject an amendment to the chamber's
health reform bill that would have permitted the importation of
lower-cost prescription medications from Canada and other foreign
countries. The amendment, by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), would have
waived current restrictions on the importation of the medications by
licensed companies and individuals for personal use. The amendment
failedbecause a floor agreement requires that all amendments must have
60 votes to be approved. A compromise amendment offered by Sen. Frank
Lautenberg (D-N.J.), which would have permitted the importation of drugs
if federal health authorities declared them safe, also failed by a 56-43
vote The Senate also voted 45-54 to reject a motion that would have sent
the reform bill back to the Senate Finance Committee with an order to
include language that complies with one of Obama's campaign pledges.
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