Donald Trump speaks during a campaign stop at Farmington High School, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, in Farmington, N.H. | AP Photo Trump backs Medicare negotiating drug prices

Donald Trump said tonight he could save Medicare billions of dollars by allowing it to negotiate drug prices directly with pharmaceutical companies -- embracing a position Democrats have championed and Republicans have opposed for years.

The Associated Press quotes Trump as telling a crowd in Farmington, N.H., that Medicare, a huge buyer of prescription drugs, could "save $300 billion" a year if it negotiated discounts.


"We don't do it," he said. "Why? Because of the drug companies."

Democrats have wanted to give Medicare that power at least since 2003, when the Medicare drug benefit law was passed — but the Republicans have always blocked it.

The Democrats, including the 2016 presidential candidates, support Medicare drug negotiations, and President Barack Obama has called for that policy in his budgets.

The pharmaceutical industry, a major player on Capitol Hill, has blocked such proposals.