the ready, the emphases should be on the word ready. we have ideas that we d like to move forward on. i don t think we fold our arms and gloat. we step forward and say, look there are people who cannot afford medicine right now. what can we do together about it? that might mean drug importation, reimportation, as i mentioned, it means negotiation of drug prices. there s no way that big pharma ought to say here s what the drug costs, take it or don t take it. that not should not be the way it goes. we are ready to take that step if that s the point you re asking. we think that is probably the right thing to do. but it s not about party, it s not about helping trump get a win. it s about doing what s right for americans who are looking at insulin going through the roof, other medications going through the roof. i hear you. they need it to stay alive. i m just asking what role will the democrats play. when you look at some big initiatives that might be coming
this is not a government takeover. it is really a private market strategy that creates new pools, changes the rules of insurance companies. makes sure that providers once again have the ability to make doctors decisions on behalf of their patients, which is one of the reasons that the doctors supported this legislation. so i hope that you know, at the end of the day, our office will be given the authority we need to make sure this is done well. and done on behalf of the american public. if the market, if the government has decided to go with a private-market solution, why is there not more private-market reform like drug importation. why is it legal to charge americans what they do and still subsidize foreign drugs and why are the insurance monopolies still intact? well the drug companies will have their profits reduced by close to $90 billion over the lifetime of this bill, that s part of the strategy moving
although the last cycle may still be on their minds. the administration would oppose drug importation from canada. a proposal that you supported in the united states senate. john can i just finish, please. let me just make this point, john. we re not campaigning anymore. the election is over. i m reminded of that every day. this would probably be a good time to turn it over to secretary sebelius. could i just say, mr. president, the american people care about what we did and how we did it. it s a subject that i think we should discuss. they absolutely do care about it, john. and senator mccain will be david gregory s exclusive guest on this sunday s meet the press. joe, i love the president him saying, let me be clear, senator mccain, remember that last election i won by seven points, that was just rough calling him out saying
norah o donnell, yesterday quite a day for political theater. we ll break it down in a little bit. first, take us through the news. good morning, guys. the health care debate is entering new grounds, a series of sharp exchanges provided neither party is prepared to give way, and with that, democrats seem poised to push ahead without republican support. pushing for an all or nothing majority vote. president obama suggests it may be impossible for the two sides to bridge differences. it comes as both sides prepare for the mid-term elections. the last cycle may still be on their minds. the administration would impose drug importation from canada a proposal you supported in the united states senate. john can i just finish, please. let me make this point, because we re not campaigning anymore, the election is over.
exemption, that would lower costs, allowing competition across state lines, would lower costs. without the federal government spending a dollar. but the president can t do it, because he s striking all these deals. and his deal with pharma. you know, not being able to have drug importation, not being able to negotiate with lower prices. think about that. you don t allow for negotiations with because of big pharma, right? and i know we got to go to break. and you allow health insurance companies to fix prices behind the scenes. there is price fixing going on, and why? they get an antitrust exemption. how do we go through health care reform for a year and health care companies still have an antitrust exemption? that is not reform. that is washington as usual. that is business as usual.