Medicare talk plays like a bad movie (Everett Herald)
Should the Medicare administration negotiate directly with drug companies in an attempt to lower drug costs for the elderly? That's the thrust of a bill Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., wasn't able to push out of the Senate Finance Committee last week.

Medicare Drug Plan Overhaul Stalls In Senate (The Morning News)
WASHINGTON -- A Senate setback on a bill to require the government to negotiate Medicare Part D drug costs with pharmaceutical companies failed to stop Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and others Wednesday from trumpeting the proposal.

Republicans block negotiating for lower Medicare drug prices (Hot Springs Village Voice)
WASHINGTON - A setback on a bill to require the government to negotiate Medicare Part D drug costs with pharmaceutical companies didn't stop U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and others from trumpeting the proposal last week. Pryor expressed his support for the measure fewer than two hours after the Senate derailed the legislation on a procedural vote.

Elma woman praises Part D (The Buffalo News)
WASHINGTON A retired seamstress from Elma on Monday told President Bush at a showcase meeting in the White House that the Medicare Part D program has saved her thousands of dollars.