The high cost of prescription drugs are a serious matter, especially to cash-strapped seniors.

Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe has introduced legislation in Congress that would allow the importation of drugs from Canada and Europe, where the government negotiates for lower prices.

New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg has introduced a competing bill, which should be called importation-lite and better fits the agenda of the Republican leadership in the Senate.

On Tuesday, the two ran into each other in an usually tense exchange between two senators from the same party. Gregg accused Snowe of trying to create a “Russian roulette regime in the name of politics,” according to The Washington Post. Snowe stood her ground and shot back at her colleague.

Playing politics?

Playing politics is when a Republican Congress passes a law adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare without considering its true cost and then purposefully prohibits the federal government from negotiating lower prices with drug makers.

Importing prescription drugs from Canada and Europe is a roundabout, temporary solution to high drug costs. But it at least gives people an option that makes their medicine more affordable.

Already, drugs are being imported by consumers desperate for a better deal, only now there’s no regulation or protections.

Snowe’s bill adds safeguards to an already common practice. Both she and her legislation deserve more respect from Gregg.