The analysis Washington Republicans DON’T want you to read
Washington Republicans are blocking bipartisan legislation to bring down the cost of prescription drugs and drug manufacturers are rewarding them handsomely for doing so.
That’s according to a Bloomberg Government story that highlights the large sums drug companies are giving Washington Republicans to ensure their obedience when needed to protect drug manufacturers’ bottom line, and block House Democrats’ legislation to lower prescription drug costs.
Minority Leader McCarthy and the NRCC lead all of Washington in donations from the drug executives highlighted in the story – outdone only by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell… the man blocking House Democrats’ bipartisan legislation to lower drug costs.
Skyrocketing prescription drug costs are a top issue for voters and, by choosing to side with big drug manufacturers, Washington Republicans are on the wrong side of voters. That’s why this month the DCCC put up a battlefield-wide ad buy to remind the American people that House Democrats passed commonsense legislation that will save at least $345 billion for the American people and approximately $1,920 per year for a family of four.
With a House Republican-backed lawsuit threatening to take away protections for hundreds of millions of Americans battling pre-existing conditions, you can bet that health care and Republican coziness with drug manufactures is something voters will continue hearing about.
In case you missed the story House Republicans definitely don’t want you to read
Pharma Donations Flow to GOP Lawmakers Fighting Curbs on Prices
By Alex Ruoff || Bloomberg Government
Key Points:
- Top executives from five pharmaceutical companies […] have given more than $370,000 combined to 2020 political campaigns. The contributions flowed largely to Republicans who pose a bulwark against drug price-control legislation that could hurt companies’ revenue.
- The campaign of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and affiliated committees were the leading beneficiaries, raking in more than $91,000 from five top industry executives in 2019, Federal Election Commission records show. GOP campaign committees also benefited.
- “From the perspective of industry, their best-case scenario is to put their money into places to prevent the structural changes that could cut into their bottom lines,” said Margarida Jorge, a political consultant who works on progressive health care coalitions. “From that point of view it makes sense to put resources into people like McConnell.”
- The haul by political action and campaign committees affiliated with McConnell (R-Ky.) came after a late-year surge in giving. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ‘s campaign took in the second-highest amount from the slate of executives at $60,600 this year through three committees affiliated with him.
- Behind McCarthy (R-Calif.) and McConnell in donations from pharmaceutical executives sits the National Republican Congressional Committee and a slate of Senate Republicans up for re-election in 2020.
- Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pushing for major changes for the pharmaceutical industry meant to lower what Americans pay at the pharmacy have said McConnell stands as a major barrier to clearing their legislation.
- “If you’re the pharmaceutical industry and you’re worried about where this is going to take you, then you support the party that opposes price interventions,” Blendon said.