By Todd Zwillich
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kuer/local-kuer-560395.mp3
Washington, DC – Twenty-four Republicans joined nearly all Democrats in supporting the bill. It was check off of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's list for the first 100 hours of the Democratic-controlled Congress. Congressman Jim Matheson a Democrat from Utah's second district voted for the bill and says it will help lower Medicare costs. AX Matheson_GoodStep It's gonna create better access by having better pricing involved. And so I think this was a good step in terms of improving the program. A step is all it really was. The Congressional Budget Office said this week that the bill by itself would not cut drug costs. That will require setting up a complex system of restricted drug lists. 3rd District Republican Chris Cannon voted against the bill and accuses Democrats of staging a show on the House floor. AX Cannon_ Really this is grandstanding and I hope it doesn't become law and that we can continue to let the market operate instead of the federal government. In its current form the bill is unlikely to become law. President Bush has pledged a veto. Before that happens, it must first go to the senate, where lawmakers have pledged to take a much slower approach to drug policy.