As someone once joked, Congress is back in session and the country is not safe. I happen to deeply disagree with this cynical comment but understand the frustration felt by the average American about our political system. The proposed legislation involving prescription drugs is a good example of why people are cynical. I have a personal interest in this legislation as I first introduced prescription drug legislation in the 1970s. In my part of Florida (and throughout Florida), there are many senior citizens living on fixed incomes. Many are faced with the tough choice of paying for prescription drugs or paying for air-conditioning or, even in some cases, paying for essential food. These are people who have worked hard all their lives. Many had some savings but the recent crash of the stock market has taken most of the savings away. They deserve some help. The House passed a Republican version of the bill using the free enterprise system as a means of distribution and having a needs-determination as part of the process. The Democrats in the Senate sponsored a much more expensive version putting it under Medicare. The costs of the Democrat bill have been estimated at $300 billion over 10 years. Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) led the charge to find a compromise but every proposal made by Republicans or Democrats fell short of the required votes. The bill in the Senate is on a life support system. Unfortunately, both parties feel they have the political edge and therefore will stick to their positions, probably ensuring that no legislation on prescription drugs is passed this year. Each party will tell you that although they very much want legislation, they don't want bad legislation and that's what the other party is trying to push through. I am sure no one in this country wants bad legislation, but the inability of the Senate, to agree, is going to leave many older Americans in a continuing precarious and sometimes life-threatening situation. Federal employees and members of Congress have a plan which works really well. If it's good enough for a member of Congress, it should be good enough for our senior citizens. The only hope is that members received so much criticism over the recess that they will be willing to compromise.

Last, look for Republicans in the House and Democrats in the Senate to push legislation which they know won't pass, but which they hope will embarrass the other party. Don't be frustrated. This is part of the normal political process. Silly season begins in the Congress several months before mid-term election. Sanity returns in January after the election and lasts for at least a year. And remember, it gets even worse in the months before a Presidential election so the spring and fall of 2004 will be off the charts. We have survived the process for many years and will once again survive this normal political posturing, as painful as it is to endure.