PhRMA Now Voting No?

[Joanne98]

The late afternoon news that PhRMA, the drug manufacturers lobby, will pull its support from Health Care Reform if it doesn't get further patent protections on its drugs is quite a commentary on the state of business in Washington today. We're not naive: each of the big corporate lobbies owns, or at least rents, big chunks of the membership of each body. And making nice with PhRMA was the price of getting enough support in each House of Congress. Fine.

But look at this. Everyone's already voted. In both chambers. Perhaps someone could change their position if one of the big ticket compromise issues -- taxes, abortion, exchanges, etc. -- didn't go their way. But here, is the idea that someone is going to change their vote based on a small revision to the number of years of patent protection against generics because Billy Tauzin giving the ceremonial thumbs down? There's not even really time or ambiguity enough to come up with a good cover for changing positions on this basis. I guess the answer is yes.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/01/phrma_now_voting_no.php?ref=fpblg

:nuke:

[endless october]

1. time to start over sans lobbyists.

the health insurance industry bailout sucks.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

2. Let them oppose it and throw their "Deal" which was no deal for the American consumer out the window

And then we can put in Medicare Drug negotiation, Drug re-importation, and a smaller exclusion period for the biologics - ALL of which would save billions of dollars more than the token 80 Billion over 10 years that the White House and Baucus "negotiated".

I hope they DO pull their support.

This is the Eshoo amendment being fought all over again by Harry Waxman once again on the side of the citizens and the consumers. In the original fight over that amendment in the House, the FTC recommended NO additional protection time, Waxman suggested five, the Obama administration said seven, and the industry wanted 12. This is also where Howard Dean weighed in in his new position as a consultant to the biologics on their side - a little sidelight that many do not seem to be aware of.

[Laelth]

3. Vomit.

There will be hell to pay if the CorporaDemocratic Party caves in to these new demands.

:puke:

:dem:

-Laelth

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

4. They have been caving or been instructed to cave by the White House

in order to preserve the Pharma "deal". The White House directly involved itself in killing off Dorgans drug importation bill that would have saved all Americans more money than the entire Pharma "deal".

[Laelth]

6. I know that what you say is true.

Let us hope that Congress won't cave again, though, on that score, I am not hopeful.

:dem:

-Laelth

[notesdev]

5. Money talks

who are the pharmas giving money to, Coakley or Brown?