By Charles Wolfe
The Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Health care, especially the cost of prescription medicine, was a prime topic discussed Monday night by three candidates running to unseat U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning.

They zeroed in on Congress' passage of a Medicare prescription drug bill that, among other things, forbids the government to negotiate prices with drug companies.

"Possibly one of the worst pieces of legislation ever to come out of Washington," said Daniel Mongiardo, a Democratic candidate who also is a physician from Hazard and a state senator.

Mongiardo and his Democratic primary opponent, David L. Williams of Glasgow, divided an hour of air time with Republican Barry Metcalf in a candidate forum on Kentucky Educational Television.

Bunning, a Republican running for a second term, declined to take part in the forum. His campaign manager, David Young, did not return a call for comment.

The forum provided access to a statewide audience for candidates who are not widely known. Metcalf is chairman of the Madison County Republican Party and served a term in the state Senate.

Williams has run for multiple offices as a Democrat, Republican and independent. He came within about 1,000 votes of winning the Republican nomination for governor over Peppy Martin in 1999.