CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Still in Washington today, President Clinton and Democratic congressional leaders will unveil a proposed prescription drug benefit program. CNN's Kelly Wallace is at the White House with those details. Good morning, Kelly.</s>KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Carol. House and Senate Democrats will come here to the White House in just a few hours to highlight a popular issue this election year, helping seniors with the high-cost of prescription drugs. And President Clinton will give this plan, which closely resembles the White House's proposal, his stamp of approval. Now the Democrats want to make this drug coverage voluntary, so it would be an optional benefit for all Medicare recipients, premiums would start at about $26 a month and seniors would pay half the costs of their prescription drugs. The plan would cover all the costs for the poorest seniors and provide what's referred to as catastrophic coverage for Medicare recipients with excessive expenses, helping seniors who have out-of-pocket costs above $3,000 to $4,000. Now the total price tag for this approach, about $200 billion over 10 years, Republicans say that's too costly. House Republicans have unveiled a plan of their own, they would cover the costs for the poorest seniors and allow private insurers to provide drug coverage to those seniors above a certain income level. Well, Democrats say that won't work and that that plan would leave needy seniors without adequate coverage. So what are the chances the two sides can negotiate their differences? Well on this issue both sides appear somewhat optimistic, perhaps because this is an issue that seniors, a very important voting bloc this election year, are very concerned about. Kelly Wallace, CNN, reporting live from the White House.
Clinton and Congressional Democrats to Unveil Prescription Drug Benefit Program