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http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/12/politics/12MEDI.html

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March 12, 2004

Senator Lott Says He Will Back Drug Imports

By ROBERT PEAR

WASHINGTON, March 11 Ñ Supporters of legislation to allow imports of

low-cost prescription drugs gained a significant convert on Thursday when

Senator Trent Lott, the former Republican leader, said he would back the

effort.

" I cannot explain to my mother any longer why she should pay twice or

two-thirds more than what is paid in Canada and Mexico, " said Mr. Lott, of

Mississippi. " I'm switching my position. "

Mr. Lott's comments came at a hearing where senators of both parties

criticized Dr. Mark B. McClellan, the commissioner of food and drugs, who

has led a campaign by the Bush administration to block drug imports as a

risk to public health.

President Bush has nominated Dr. McClellan to run Medicare and Medicaid.

Several senators had vowed to hold up Dr. McClellan's confirmation until he

testified on drug imports.

Two committee chairmen, Senator McCain of Arizona and Representative

Dan Burton of Indiana, both Republicans, said Dr. McClellan had repeatedly

refused to appear before their committees.

" You come to this committee after having stiffed us, " said Mr. McCain, who

presided over the hearing, held by the Committee on Commerce, Science and

Transportation.

Dr. McClellan said, " I am very sorry about the perception that we have not

been responsive. " He promised that if he is confirmed as Medicare chief, he

will be more responsive to Congress.

It was not immediately clear whether Dr. McClellan's testimony would remove

the obstacles to his confirmation. Some senators may demand a vote on

drug-import legislation in return for allowing a vote on Dr. McClellan. " We

definitely want a vote on the legislation and will be pursuing every option

to make that happen, " said Senator Debbie Stabenow, Democrat of Michigan.

The House has voted several times to legalize drug imports. The Senate

majority leader, Bill Frist, Republican of Tennessee, has opposed

legalization, saying it would jeopardize the nation's drug supply at a time

of constant worry about terrorism.

Dr. McClellan said the government would need " several hundred million

dollars a year " to police imports, inspect foreign suppliers and test

imported medicines. Another federal program, which checks the safety of food

imports, " might be a good model " for regulating imported drugs, Dr.

McClellan said.

Senators E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, and M. Kennedy,

Democrat of Massachusetts, are working on legislation to give the Food and

Drug Administration money and authority to monitor imported medicines.

Copyright 2004ÊThe New York Times Company

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