Senate votes to lift ban on imported prescription drugs

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- With the rising cost of medicine emerging as a political issue on the campaign trail, the Senate Wednesday voted 74-21 to allow the importation and sale of prescription drugs from other countries.

The measure, attached to the annual spending bill for the Agriculture Department, faced stiff opposition from the pharmaceutical industry, which raised safety concerns about imported prescriptions drugs.

The House of Representatives has already approved a similar measure, and a compromise bill will have to be crafted before the legislation reaches the White House for consideration.

Prodded by senior citizens frustrated by the cost of rising medicine, lawmakers have been wrestling with this issue for months. Senior citizens have banded together in caravans to travel to Canada and Mexico to buy their prescription drugs, where they are much cheaper.

Wednesday, July 19, 2000

• Senate votes to lift ban on imported prescription drugs
  
• Michigan's Senate contest a 'cliffhanger'
  
• Gore again presents himself as 'law enforcement' candidate
  
• Justice says White House coffee tape unclear; hearings scheduled Tuesday
  
• Armey says House members deserve pay raise
  
• Poll: Political conventions boring, but useful
  
• Georgia Democrats in runoff to pick Barr challenger
  
• Missouri Senate race matches two political 'titans'
  
• House votes to increase pension and IRA contribution caps
  
• Lawmakers remember Sen. Coverdell as a skilled, kind-hearted colleague
  
• Gore pulls even in the polls. Did Bradley do it?
  
• After donor refunds, Giuliani still has $3.8 million
  
• Industries help fund McCain PAC
  
• Jeff Greenfield: The scene of the crime
  
• Stuart Rothenberg: Spotlight races in New York and Georgia
  
• latimes.com: Panel OKs three convention protest marches
  
• Wellstone proposes letting states design universal health care plans
  
• Police arranging prisons, security for convention
  
• Mineta promises to pursue free trade, growth as commerce chief
  
• US House backs $288 billion military spending bill
  
• Clinton opposes removing four dams on Snake River
  
• Vice presidential speculation carries political risks
  
• Senate panel rejects funds for lawsuit
  
• Congressman focuses on Gore videotape comment
  
• Arkansans back Clinton but also disbarment
  
• Lott seeks September vote on China trade pact
  
• latimes.com: Convention seeks to exploit Web politics
  
• Kennedy challenger's long-shot ballot crusade succeeds
  
• Arkansas governor, family to move into 'triplewide'
  
• Veteran lawmakers fall or face runoffs after Georgia primary
  
• Candidate Clinton wants to expand health-care eligibility for children
  

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