When lawmakers return to Washington after this week’s recess, one item on their to-do list could be the price of prescription drugs.

House Democratic leaders are pushing a plan, but not all North Carolina lawmakers are on board.

The proposal, crafted by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, allows the government to negotiate the price of up to 250 drugs per year. Those prices would then apply not only to Medicare patients, but to those with private insurance as well, according to a summary from the speaker’s office.

The proposal includes other provisions as well, including capping out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000 for Medicare beneficiaries.

Rep. GK Butterfield, D-1st District, is on the House committee considering the legislation and has expressed support for the plan.

“We must do more at the federal level to drive down drug prices,” he said. “Many of our low income citizens are rationing their pills, and taking pills not as prescribed, but only as they can afford to use them.”

The idea is facing pushback from Republicans in both chambers, with some labeling it a “socialist” proposal.

During a recent hearing, Rep. Richard Hudson, R-8th District, raised concern the plan could stymie research.

“It threatens the golden age of innovation and the access to new breakthrough therapies we’ve seen in the last 20 years,” he said. “Our constituents don’t care which party had which idea, they just want relief at the pharmacy counter.”

One potential wildcard for the future of drug price legislation is the president.

President Donald Trump listed drug prices among his top priorities during this year’s State of the Union Address. “It is unacceptable that Americans pay vastly more than people in other countries for the exact same drugs - often made in the exact same place,” he said during the speech in February.

He has previously expressed interest in some components included in the plan. Could he pressure Republicans to reach a deal?

Over the summer, lawmakers in the Senate Finance committee introduced their own drug price legislation that the president has expressed support for, but that plan has also faced pushback from several Republicans.

One new factor to add into the mix is the impeachment inquiry. It is unclear whether any sort of agreement could be made while that investigation is ongoing.