Article excerpt

Two Columbia residents gave credit to U.S. Sen. Jim Talent yesterday for helping pass Medicare legislation they said would lower their annual drug bills by $3,600.

U.S. Sen. Jim Talent makes a stop yesterday at the Holiday Inn Select Executive Center during an eight-city tour announcing his re-election campaign. Talent, U.S. Sen. Kit Bond and U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof were among speakers before a gathering of about 70 people.

Don and Carnetta Welter, who, like Talent, are Republicans, took center stage in Talent’s behalf during a campaign stop in Columbia that capped the first day of his re-election campaign. Talent is facing a challenge from state Auditor Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, for the seat he has held for the past 3½ years.

Political observers have handicapped the Talent-McCaskill contest as one of the most competitive in the country.

Welter, who managed a Wal-Mart store before he retired, said his wife takes 17 pills a day and that their annual drug bill was $6,000 last year. He said since he and his wife have signed up for the Medicare Part D drug benefit that Talent helped pass, Welter expects the annual medicine bill to be $2,400.

Cole County Sheriff Greg White also took the stand in Talent’s behalf. White said Talent was instrumental in passing legislation to combat methamphetamine, a highly addictive drug that destroys families and "turns good neighbors into dangerous people."

"We had a senator who listens to us," White said.