WASHINGTON -- Robert "Butch" Martin has been battling seizures since he was 12. When he started having six to 10 fits a day several decades later, he had to take disability leave and eventually retire from his job as a middle school teacher.

Over the last 14 years, advanced medicine has helped the 59-year-old from Burlington fight his convulsions down to one per month. Now, Martin faces a new threat: increasing prescription drug prices.

After the Medicare prescription drug plan took effect in January 2006, Martin's provider discontinued its services in Iowa -- leaving him no option but to join Medicare. Since the switch, his out-of-pocket prescription expenses have tripled from $120 per month to more than $350.

"A lot of people pay more and just hope that the Senate does something to correct this problem," Martin said Friday. "I hope they get negotiated drug programs so that prices can lower."

Senate Democrats are looking to achieve just that by initiating debate this week on a bill that would take away a restriction in the prescription drug law that prevents the government from negotiating with drug manufacturers to set prescription prices. But Republicans argue that the government can't beat market competition.

Drafted by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., the bill steers clear of the tough demands of a House bill passed in January that would require the government to negotiate prices. But an amendment proposed by Baucus would allow negotiations without requiring them.

"If Medicare can strike a better deal than what the private sector currently offers, then they should be able to do that -- simply because it will save taxpayers' dollars," said a spokeswoman for Sen. Tom Harkin, D- Iowa. "The (Health and Human Services Department) secretary should have the autonomy to negotiate what's best for taxpayers."

But a majority of Senate Republicans and President Bush strongly oppose the bill. They argue that government intervention would kill competition among drug companies and reduce benefits to the elderly.

A Congressional Budget Office study requested by Baucus found that "modifying the noninterference provision would have a negligible effect on federal spending . (and) the secretary would lack the leverage to negotiate (favorable) prices."

The Medicare drug program provides benefits to 42 million Americans, including 502,547 Iowa participants; Black Hawk County has 21,051 enrollees. Fifty-three plans are available for Iowa's seniors and citizens with disabilities. Monthly premiums range from $10.60 to $110.30.

Last year, Democrats vowed to "fix the disastrous Medicare (prescription drug program) and ensure our seniors can afford their prescription drugs." Eager to deliver campaign promises in the new Congress, Democrats passed the House bill overturning the ban on government negotiations in January's 100-hour legislative rally.

"I campaigned on (the) issue in my primary and in the general election," Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, said Friday. "It (is) very important that we do more to provide the type of prescription drug benefit that we originally intended to give seniors and people with disabilities who depend on Medicare."

Braley said he had not reviewed the CBO study, but argued the federal government's purchasing power will bear lower prices -- like it has, as Democrats maintain, for the Veterans' Affairs prescription drug program.

The administration issued an unfavorable statement shortly after the House bill passed, however. The president would veto the bill if it were presented, the statement said.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, ranking member of the Finance Committee, is another staunch opponent of the measure. He said Thursday that the secretary does not need negotiation powers and that it "is a bad idea" to create a national formulary of prescription drugs.

"Under the drug benefit today, with the (providers) negotiating with drug makers and competing with each other, we have lower drug prices for beneficiaries, lower program costs for the government, and prescription drug choices for beneficiaries," Grassley said.

The senator is "willing to lead a filibuster if that's the caucus strategy," Grassley spokesman Lucas Bolar said Friday.

Ann Black of the Iowa AARP struck a middle ground. She said Friday that there is not enough competition to reduce prices for certain drugs -- such as new medicines for Alzheimer's disease and protected classes of pharmaceuticals for mental health and cancer treatment.

The AARP "and 89 percent of Iowans support allowing Medicare to use its bargaining power to lower prices for prescription drugs," she said. "The program has worked well. It's a good policy, but like any good policy it can be built upon and improved."

Contact Emre Peker at emailemre@gmail.com.