Published on: America Online National News, Friday, July 7, 2000:

"Gore Opposes Drug Patent Extensions".

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Pittsburgh, July 7 -

Vice President Al Gore said Friday that as president he would oppose efforts to extend drug companies' patents on high-profit medicines. "I'll expose them for what they are, bad medicine for the American people,'' Gore said in remarks prepared for delivery to senior citizens in suburban Pittsburgh.

Gore, capping a two-week effort to energize core Democrats, focused on women's health care Friday. He said women pay more for prescription drugs, live longer and earn less than men, and have higher overall health costs. "I will fight to see that every woman in the land has access to the quality health care she deserves and can afford the prescription medicine she needs,'' he said.

He said congressional Republicans have been pushing for legislation that would protect $2.4 billion in revenues for big drug manufacturers, including patent extensions "on highly profitable brand-name drugs in order to boost profits and stifle competition''

In Pittsburgh, he also was promoting his proposal for $3,000 tax credits for the 9 million women caring for sick or disabled relatives. Gore is wrapping up the fourth - and final - week of his ``prosperity and progress tour'' where he's sought to claim credit for the nation's robust economy while also seeking to reshape the campaign debate into a discussion of how to spend the projected budget surplus. He's used the week to tout his $339 billion, 10-year proposal to bolster Medicare, including the addition of a prescription drug benefit, and has sought to energize key Democratic voting blocs by drawing a contrast with Republican rival George W. Bush.

Gore has touted his health plan to Hispanics in California, African-Americans in Ohio, teachers in Illinois and Pennsylvania, and returns to that key battleground to make his appeal to women. On the health issue, background documents prepared by Gore's campaign note that one-third of women on Medicare lack prescription drug coverage, even as they spend 13 percent more than men for those medicines. Aides note that women also spend an average of $2,613 a year on health care - 22 percent of the median income for females. Gore also argues that his proposals focus on ailments such as cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis, which he says strike women more than men. In addition, Gore notes his focus on domestic violence and plans to underscore his support for abortion rights in an effort to sharpen contrasts with Bush, who opposes the procedure.

Since Gore and Bush emerged from the primary season as the certain nominees of their respective parties, the two have waged a struggle for control of the campaign's agenda. Gore has conceded privately that Bush got the better of that initial struggle by moving quickly to the political center with a series of policy initiatives. In the last month, Gore has moved aggressively to refocus the campaign debate and energize key constituencies.

On another front, aides said Gore is likely to campaign next week with former Democratic rival Bill Bradley. Gore defeated Bradley in a bitter primary fight, and while Bradley has said he supports the vice president, he has done little to help the campaign. Details were being worked out, but the two were likely to campaign together next Thursday in Green Bay, Wis., campaign aides said.

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