Presidential advisor Dan Bartlett sez:
WALLACE: You’re saying you don’t need to have Medicare negotiate lower prices. it’s already happened.
BARTLETT: The marketplace is working. We’re more than happy to have that debate with Republicans, Democrats, whoever wants to talk about it. The proof is in the pudding. It’s been working. It’s been benefitting America’s seniors.
But the American people disagree. In the same Newsweek poll that showed the President with a 31% approval rating, allowing HHS to negotiate drug prices was the highest priority for voters. That has support from 76% of the population.
If Bush intends to set a new low for presidential approval, all he has to do is work hard to make drugs even more expensive.