While lowering drug costs is a major bipartisan voter issue, tensions between parties have been escalating as Democrats introduced a bill that would allow Medicare to negotiate prices and launched a formal impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump over allegations that he solicited foreign interference for his personal political gain.
Two drug pricing proposals were unveiled in September, one by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and another by Senate Finance Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR). Following the impeachment inquiry announcement, President Trump, who previously criticized high drug costs, dashed hopes for a bipartisan agreement.
"House Democrats have destroyed any chances of legislative progress for the people of this country by continuing to focus all their energy on partisan political attacks," White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.
Despite President Trump's rejection and Republicans' claims that the Democratic health care agenda is "socialist," Democrats are still publicly calling for a deal.
Source: Roll Call, September 26, 2019.