Edwards Calls for Changes to Drug Plans
Sun Aug 15,11:03 AM ET
story.news.yahoo.com
By CURT WOODWARD, Associated Press Writer
FARGO, N.D. - Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards
called for changes to prescription drug programs and
praised running mate John Kerrys military and
government service at an outdoor campaign rally here Saturday.
Continuing a push to court older voters,
Edwards told an crowd of about 2,800 that
he and Kerry would "stand up to these drug
companies and stand up for the American
people."
The North Carolina senator said that as
president, Kerry would allow lower-cost
prescription medications to be reimported
from Canada and free the government to
negotiate lower drug prices from drug
companies.
He also said drug advertisements should
include information about generic
equivalents: "The American people need to
know when there's a cheaper, equally good
alternative."
President Bush has
opposed legalizing drug imports based on
safety concerns, and his campaign says
Bush has secured through Congress the
biggest improvement in senior health care
since Medicare was established.
Edwards praised Kerry's record in the
military and government, saying the
Massachusetts senator has been dedicated
to serving the United States since his days
in Vietnam.
"Where I come from, where you come from,
a man who loves his country enough to
volunteer to serve ... that's someone who
represents real American values," he said.
North Dakota Sen. Byron Dorgan (news,
bio, voting record) and Rep. Earl Pomeroy
(news, bio, voting record), Democrats who
are running for re-election this year,
introduced Edwards. Joe Satrom, the
Democratic candidate for governor, also spoke at the rally.
Edwards' Fargo visit was salve for North Dakota Democrats angered by
the party ticket's decision to bypass the state in the 2000 campaign.
The state's Democratic congressional delegation - Dorgan, Pomeroy
and Sen. Kent Conrad (news, bio, voting record) - asked Edwards and
Kerry to campaign in North Dakota.
Despite having three Democrats in Congress, North Dakota has gone to
Republicans in every presidential election since favoring Democrat
Lyndon Johnson in 1964. President Bush claimed the state's three
electoral votes in 2000 after winning 61 percent of the popular vote. |
