Brian it's nice to see you recognize it was Baucus's idea to make a deal with PhRMA and not Obama as was widely reported a month ago.

To recap Baucus says he'll take $80 billion in rebates from PhRMA over 10 years and Pelosi and Waxman prefer direct government negotiation with individual pharma mfrs which they say will save us $120 to $140 billion over 10 years.

That averages a difference of $4 to $6 billion a year, not a deal breaker by any means. But I wonder where the patent protection length, clinical study availability other features of HR 3200 figure in the senate bills. Those are huge factors that will affect how fast new, better and cheaper drugs are brought to market and closing the donut hole.

It's all creepy. Democrats making alliances with Big Pharma is too much like the West's alliance with Stalin during WWII. Maybe necessary, but still very distasteful!

if that is the case, then we are staring down the barrel of another 2003 medicare modernization act. at this point, one is beginning to wonder not just who is and who isn't negotiating in good faith for the good of our nation and all its citizens; but rather whose agenda is it to bankrupt our nation and kill the government in favor of corporations for all!

If Baucus was in any other profession other than a Senator in Congress, he would be indicted for taking bribes. This is not idealogy. This is a CRIME. We can't count on the media, the press, or even the quasi-decent members of Congress to call him out. The system is so broken, you have to wonder if the entire country has to become bankrupted before there is revolt. America used to point to third world corruption with high minded indignation. It appears our officials are equally corrupt and even more greedy.

We'll quickly find out just how involved and supportive the White House has been with Baucas' negotiations. If they are backing this/him, then they'll be quiet or supportive of.

If the admin does not back his approach at this point, he's crossed a very serious line and can expect a very cold shoulder for the rest of his term (not that he'll care, he'll have enough money that he won't need any outside help ever again).