(Photos provided)

PLATTSBURGH — Not surprisingly, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and her Democratic opponent Tedra Cobb disagree on H.R. 3, the “Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act.”

On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed the legislation almost entirely along party lines, 230 to 192.

Sticking with all but two of her Republican colleagues who voted on the measure, Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, voted against it.

Cobb’s campaign, who said Friday that she would have voted for H.R. 3, said in a press release that, with her nay vote, Stefanik “again chose her corporate donors over northern New York families.”

–

Criticized Stefanik

–

According to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s website, H.R. 3, among other things, “gives Medicare the power to negotiate directly with the drug companies,” makes those lower prices available to Americans with private insurance as well, and limits the maximum price of negotiated drugs.

“The Congressional Budget Office estimates this bill would save $456 Billion and lower the cost of prescription drugs,” Cobb’s campaign said.

In a statement, Cobb criticized Stefanik for accepting funds from the insurance and pharmaceutical industry.

“She protects their bottom line by voting to kick 64,000 people off their healthcare, gut protections for people with pre-existing conditions and increase the cost of prescription drugs,” Cobb claimed, referencing the congresswoman’s vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

“The people of New York’s 21st district aren’t Elise Stefanik’s priority, we see it in everything she does.

“I’m not accepting corporate PAC money, my vote will not be for sale.”

Stefanik posted on her Facebook page that the legislation did not have support of both parties.

“Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi’s partisan legislation, H.R. 3, is a 95% tax on lifesaving cures for Americans that has no chance of passing the Senate and becoming law,” Stefanik wrote.

–

Alternative bill

–

This week, Stefanik announced her co-sponsorship of H.R. 19, the “Lower Costs, More Cures Act,” which she called a bipartisan solution to H.R. 3.

“The Lower Costs, More Cures Act is a package of over 40 provisions previously introduced to lower out-of-pocket spending, ensure new medicines and cures are not heavily taxed, strengthen transparency and accountability, and champion competition in the medical community,” according to a press release.

Stefanik said in a statement that H.R. 3 has no chance of passing the Senate and becoming law, contending that H.R. 19 could be passed in both houses and signed into law by Trump swiftly.

“This legislation would bring real results for my constituents in the North Country who are tired of their prescription drug costs skyrocketing.

“I urge Speaker Pelosi to reconsider and bring this legislation to the floor, which has a chance of becoming law and making a real difference in people’s lives.”

According to an outline of the act’s tenets, it would cap seniors’ out-of-pocket drug costs, make insulin more affordable and cut the cost of drug administration for Medicare beneficiaries by up to half.