Time for action on drug prices

It is time for Congress and the administration to take real action to reduce prescription drug prices. The president, over two years ago, said drug companies are ripping us off. The same drugs used in advanced nations around the globe cost about half of what they do in the U.S.

Numerous bills were introduced in both houses addressing this matter in the last session of Congress and the parade of bills is on for this session also to:

1 Allow individuals with a prescription to import a 90 day supply of safe and lower priced drugs from Canada.

2 Have Medicare put its drug list out for bid, like the VA does, saving it billions of dollars.

3 Ban deals on made by brandname drug manufacturers to delay lower-cost generic drug introductions.

Many of these bills have companion bills in both houses and some have bi-partisan support.

One would think this is a nobrainer but the legions of pharmaceutical lobbyists in Washington, D.C. coupled with massive campaign contributions, to both parties, particularly to those at the throttle, has prevented significant progress with only minor bills ever getting out of the controlling committees. Congress must act soon. Faye Hollowell, Cordova

Manziel is bad for Memphis

One loser plus one loser equals two losers. Johnny Manziel and the Memphis Express equals a losing situation.

Worse than that, Memphis will now be just another laugh in the bizarre world of Johnny Football. Better start planning on who’s next as this will be nothing more than an incomplete pass thrown out of bounds. Drop the mic, “losers.” Karl Chambless, Oakland, Tennessee