Statement of U.S. Senator Herb Kohl on the Prescription Drug Legislation

STATEMENT OF U.S. SENATOR HERB KOHL ON THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG LEGISLATION

"I had hoped to support this legislation, and I have in the past supported bills to provide a real, meaningful prescription drug benefit to seniors. However, the bill that passed the Senate is an empty promise to seniors and the disabled who are on Medicare; one that falls well short of what they have been asking for and have a right to expect. This bill has far too many fatal flaws -- most notably the huge gap in coverage where seniors pay premiums but receive no benefit; too many retirees losing the good coverage they already have; and a complicated structure that could force seniors to change plans from year to year."