News flash in from Paul Brown, U.S. PIRG health care advocate, who's back in DC: "The House passed the PIRG-backed Medicare Negotiation Bill by a vote of 255 yes, 170 no. We got 24 Republicans and lost no Democrats." That's great news, especially that 24 Republicans voted to help senior citizens get better access to low-cost, critical drugs. The bi-partisan vote helps to show that Speaker Pelosi's 100 Hours program is not a partisan game as some pundits have alleged. We have some work to make Medicare negotiation rights law, but it's a great start and shows that the once-all-powerful PhRMA lobby no longer can claim control over what the Congress does on its issues.