Clinton Calls Drug Plan Foes ‘Shameless’

President Clinton accused the pharmaceutical industry Saturday of unleashing “a shameless, scorched-earth campaign” aimed at killing his prescription drug plan for older Americans.

In his weekly radio address, Clinton urged Congress to act on his proposal, saying they should reject election-year maneuvering and the appeals of “reckless special interests.” He said his proposal is bogging down in Congress despite what he said was great support for it.

“One reason for this is clear,” Clinton said, citing a $236-million industry campaign “to thwart the will of the American people.”

Clinton said that the pharmaceutical industry is pushing a private insurance program to deal with prescription needs but that the insurance industry says such a plan won’t work.

“You have to give it to the insurance companies; they have been honest here,” Clinton said. “They have said the Republican plan won’t work. It’s a plan designed for those who make the drugs, not for the seniors who need to take them.”

Republican legislation passed by the House in late June would extend drug coverage through government-subsidized policies sold by private insurers. An alternative proposed by Clinton and supported by most congressional Democrats would establish a standard government-run Medicare benefit.

In a statement responding to Clinton’s address, Alan F. Holmer, president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said Clinton’s plan “will inevitably lead to government bureaucrats deciding which medicines will be available.

“We think those decisions should be made by doctors and patients,” Holmer said.

In the Republican response to the address, Wisconsin Gov. Tommy G. Thompson switched topics to energy policy, arguing that the Clinton administration has done little to bring down gas prices.

Thompson, whose state has some of the highest prices in the nation, faulted the administration for preventing oil exploration in such places as Alaska and requiring use of costlier types of clean-air fuel.