A commercial on TV proclaims “we do it all for you,” as a popular product is promoted for our use. This same slogan comes to mind as I note a bill that will soon be voted on in Congress. It is a drug re-importation bill that will allow Americans all over the country to benefit from discounts, legally, on prescriptions sent to Canada.

It is interesting that this Congress, less than one year ago, passed a new Medicare bill that included a drug benefit that will offer discounts beginning this summer. What was frustrating and infuriating about that bill is that our governmental agencies were forbidden from negotiating special and sizable discounts for us as the Canadian government does for its citizens. Since that time, countless politicians and news agencies have criticized Congress and the present administration for caring more for drug companies than for its citizens.

Why did Congress pass a Medicare bill that many of its own members now wonder about and regret? Is a re-importation bill better for us than simply correcting the shortcomings of a year ago? Will they get it right this time, or will there be more confusion for our seniors as Congress tries, again, to “do all this for us”?

I hope that our representatives in Washington will dare to stand on conviction and principle as they try to “get it right” and enact legislation that will provide Americans fair prices for us, just as Canada does for its citizens.

Ray Richard, Lewiston

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