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Obama Helps Kill Cheaper Drug Imports

Sides with big pharma on proposal he backed as candidate, senator

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 16, 2009 8:58 AM CST
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(Newser) – Proving once again that campaign promises are sturdy stuff, Barack Obama yesterday led the charge to kill a health care reform amendment that would have made it easier to import cheaper prescription drugs from places like Canada—even though he touted the idea in the campaign, and co-sponsored a similar measure as a senator. “No surprise here,” says Dana Milbank of the Washington Post. “Lawmakers, and the White House, are addicted to drug money.”

The pharmaceutical industry struck a “sweetheart deal” with Obama to forgo $80 billion in revenue if he otherwise protected their interests. So the administration backed a squadron of paid-off senators from pharmaceutical-manufacturing states, arming them with an FDA letter warning, laughably, of “significant safety concerns.” Desperate, sponsor Byron Dorgan pleaded with his colleagues. “The pharmaceutical industry has a lot of clout. I know that,” he said. “I hope the American people can expect some clout on their behalf.” If the vote was any indication, they can’t.

President Barack Obama delivers remark on lower drug costs, Monday, June 22, 2009, in Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington.
President Barack Obama delivers remark on lower drug costs, Monday, June 22, 2009, in Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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This is a matter of life
or death. - Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-Merck), citing the FDA letter to oppose the amendment

I will be by his side as we go back and back and back again on this issue until justice and fairness is done and we defeat the special interests which have taken over the White House and will take over this vote. - John McCain, supporting Byron Dorgan

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My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
12%
4%
69%
12%
4%
0%
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 42 comments
fancygapva
Dec 19, 2009 6:22 AM CST
Until there is real reform for campaign finance we won't get any change. Did you know that politicians can at their own discretion keep what is left over after their campaignes? In theory they are supposed to contribute it to others of their party, but in practice they just HAVE a party. Lobbiests still grease the palms of congress, congress still lets lobbiests from industry write legislation, nothing will change until we cut the time for campaigns to 2 months and totally publicly finance all campaigns. Believe me folks, it will be the best tax money you ever spent.
fancygapva
Dec 19, 2009 6:17 AM CST
@concerned nurse it was the Government that put the do nut hole in and it will take the government to get it out. What do you think Medicaid and Medicare are? Did you know that Medicare pays providers at higher rates than United Health Care and has a much lower cost/overhead and NO profit? I have worked in Mental Health both under the public and private sectors. The public sector provided better services at lower cost. The first year in North Carolina under the Private Managed Care regime caused a $4,000,000 Mental Health budget over run. AND it grew the private mental health bureacracy by about 300% without providing extra services, just another layer of "care managers" on top of the private "care managers" and the profit taking private providers. Result, completely fragmented mental health. Deinstitutionalization that leaves the mentally ill and mentally retarded either on the streets or with dangerously inadequate "services" and multiple "mental health" medications that are inadequately monitored.
Ucantusethatname
Dec 17, 2009 11:26 AM CST
To those folks who voted for Obamessiah. At last you are seeing the fraud that he is.

 
Barack Obama • prescription drugs • pharmaceutical industry • Byron Dorgan • Dana Milbank • reimportation

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