Should Billions In Taxes Go To Pay For Viagra & Cialis?

There are a lot of ridiculous boondoggles that our Federal tax dollars have been wasted on in the past like pork projects in West Virginia named after Robert Byrd & “art” that consists of a crucifix dipped in urine.

However, in terms of ridiculous things our tax dollars may be spent on, there’s going to be a new contender for the top slot starting in 2006:

“The federal government will spend nearly $2 billion in the next decade on male impotence drugs under its Medicare program, according to a new cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office that is fueling some lawmakers’ efforts to end that spending.

….”It’s a number that’s just shocking,” (Rep. Steve King) said. “When you’re looking at it starting out at $90 million a year [in fiscal year 2006] and goes up [by 2015] to $280 million — that’s not loose change. That’s a huge pile of recreational drug bills.”

The federal body that runs Medicare ruled earlier this year that drugs to treat male impotence such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra will be covered as of Jan. 1, 2006, when the full drug coverage program created by Congress two years ago takes effect.

Jeff Trewhitt, a spokesman for Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said his group was still looking at the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) estimate and would not comment. But he said the organization is opposed to Mr. King’s bill.

“Products that treat erectile dysfunction are part of the overall treatment of patients. Medicare and Medicaid patients should not be like second-class citizens when their diseases are treated,” he said.

The CBO estimated that Medicare spending on impotence drugs would be $1.93 billion over 10 years, with $730 million being spent in the first five years. After 2010, the CBO estimate shows spending increasing by $20 million a year and figures that the government will be spending $280 million a year by 2015.

In announcing their decision to include the medications, Medicare officials said the law required them to cover drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration that are medically necessary.”

Yes, you’re reading that right, folks. Billions of taxpayer dollars — that’s billions with a “b” — are going to be used to make sure that grandpa can still get aroused when grandma is in the mood. Sorry, but that’s a personal problem, not a problem for society. If you want those drugs, buy them yourself. If you don’t have the money, tough luck, the rest of society shouldn’t be asked to fork over their tax dollars to pay for your Viagra & Cialis. So let’s hope Steve King and company are successful so the taxpayers don’t end up picking up the tab for a few people’s “uplifting experiences”…

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