Faced with Speaker Pelosi's hundred-hour agenda, Republicans are about to find themselves defending a number of uncomfortable positions, opposing popular initiatives like a minimum-wage increase and funding for stem cell reseach. But I've been particularly curious to hear how they'll justify opposing Democratic plans to require the federal government to negotiate with big PhRMA for lower drug prices under Medicare Part D. Just how do you explain to the nation's seniors that they shouldn't pay less for their medication while the pharmaceutical industry keeps cashing in?
Never fear, the GOP has come up with something, no doubt with a little help from the panicked drug lobby. If several trial balloons launched by Senator-elect Bob Corker (R-TN) are any indication, we're about to a see the GOP do what they do best: reframe an issue with a distracting appeal to some of our worst primal impulses, in this case jingoism. What to do about high drug prices?
Blame the foreigners!
Appearing yesterday on Face the Nation, Senator-elect Corker explained:
"I think we've got to figure out a way that Americans are not paying one penny more for prescriptions than Canadians. I think that's absolutely wrong. And I think we've got to figure out a way of doing it.
"But I do like keeping competition in the mix. And I don't know whether it's through trade agreements or other ways. But there's no reason that Americans are paying almost 100 percent of all the research and development that's taking place in pharmaceuticals."
Corker is vague, but it's not difficult to figure out where this is going. See, the problem isn't that Americans are paying too much for prescription drugs. The Canadians are paying to little. Maybe we could fix that with some kind of trade agreement. Think I'm reading too much into this? Check out what Corker had to say a couple of weeks ago on NewsHour, when he pushed the underlying theme a little harder:
As it relates to prescriptions, I think we need to figure out a way that Americans are not paying more for prescription drugs than Canadians. I'm not sure -- I don't think that means the government negotiates that. But I think there ought to be a different way for us to figure out a way for us not to be paying all of the research and development costs for pharmaceuticals here in America, while other people have a free ride, like Canada and other countries.
Those damn Canadians (and other unnamed foreigners), getting a free ride at our expense! First we lose jobs to the illegal aliens pouring across our Southern border. Now we're forced to pay higher drug prices by greedy Canadian seniors. It's all so simple in GOP-land.
Republicans have yet to make Senate committee assignments, but Corker is hopeful he can play a role in crafting health-care policy:
As a former state finance commissioner and successful businessman, Corker said, “I obviously have a passion for issues that relate to U.S. competitiveness,” healthcare costs in particular.
And if Republicans can figure out a way to raise prescription drug prices in Canada, that pesky re-importation issue goes away too. I love it when a plan comes together.