Yet another provision in the new Democratic majority's First 100 Hours plan was a complete reversal of the Bush Administration's complete lack of willingness to negotiate a better deal for Medicare prescription drugs. As policy, it simply made no sense. When your buying power gives you that much clout, then why not use it for the good of retirees that often live on fixed incomes?

Far too often in this nation, retirees are forced to make difficult choices as it relates to their lifesaving medicine. Do they buy food this week or fill their prescriptions? Any answer other than "both" means that we, as a nation, have some work to do.

My goal and the goal of the 110th Congress is the preservation and improvement of Medicare. With the CHAMP Act, we shut down the Republican drive to privatize it. Study after study has proven that, contrary to myth, government programs have consistently proven more efficient and operated with lower overhead, providing more benefit to you.

As your Congressman, I will defend Medicare from all who would change it in any way that doesn't come out better for you.