Getting back to that PhRMA deal that bars the reimportation of drugs…
President Barack Obama still supports the re-importation of pharmaceuticals from other countries even though a deal he struck with the drug industry specifically excluded provisions on the controversial measure.
Asked by The Hill on Tuesday if Obama backs the re-importation effort, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said, “Yes. The president said during the campaign that he did. [He] said so in his first budget, assuming that safety concerns … could be addressed. And I think that’s the key.”
Gibbs’s comments could bolster the chances that a bipartisan amendment on drug re-importation will attract the necessary 60 votes. The measure, sponsored by Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), is scheduled to be debated on the floor on Wednesday or Thursday.
They are actually debating this amendment on the Senate floor right now. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is whoring for the pharmaceutical industry as I write this. They make a lot of drugs in New Jersey. I am going to remember every Democrat who votes against the reimportation of drugs. I will consider everyone of them to be completely bought and sold.
I think Menendez’s presentation was the most dishonest display I have ever seen a Democrat make on the Senate floor.
maybe Cory Booker will primary him as has been rumored
should be interesting to watch, but my guess is that there are enough people on both sides of the aisle who’ve been bought and sold to kill it.
via open secrets, Pharmaceuticals / Health Products: Long-Term Contribution Trends:
clik to enlarge
big phrma kept the receipts and it’s payback time.
Booman: I’m gonna be watching this very closely, too. But with all of the general anger out there today over the hcr bill, we’re gonna quickly end up with not just bluedogs but everyone on the shitlist of people to be angry with.
If I was a politician, I’d be happier doing nothing.
I live in upstate NY, and drive down to Philly about twice a year on business, taking Rte. 280, and then getting 206 south. On that stretch of road there must be ten gigantic pharmaceutical corporations. All with massive white buildings, big lawns, and very expensive signage. They look like fortresses.
Definitely watch:
Menendez – a bunch of big Pharma
Carper/Kaufman – DuPont
Bayh – Lilly
Hagan – Glaxo-Smith-Kline
Casey/Specter – Merck
Schumer/Gillibrand – Pfizer
Those are some of the biggies among the Pharma companies. I don’t think all of these Senators will carry water for the industry, but it will be interesting to see who does.
that there was a leaked pharma memo some years back that named Menendez as theirs.
Anyway, he is otherwise very good. You’d need to work pretty far down the list of imperfect Democratic Senators to make Menendez your target.