Sherry Chandler » Winning Friends and Influencing People
Winning Friends and Influencing People
From the NYTimes:
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 — Alarmed at the prospect of Democratic control of Congress, top executives from two dozen drug companies met here last week to assess what appears to them to be a harsh new political climate, and to draft a battle plan.
Hoping to prevent Congress from letting the government negotiate lower drug prices for millions of older Americans on Medicare, the pharmaceutical companies have been recruiting Democratic lobbyists, lining up allies in the Bush administration and Congress, and renewing ties with organizations of patients who depend on brand-name drugs.
Many drug company lobbyists concede that the House is likely to pass a bill intended to drive down drug prices, but they are determined to block such legislation in the Senate. If that strategy fails, they are counting on President Bush to veto any bill that passes. With 49 Republicans in the Senate next year, the industry is confident that it can round up the 34 votes normally needed to uphold a veto.
My mother just got past the donut hole in her Medicare Part D prescription coverage. She spends about $500/month on drugs. Part D will have covered her expenditures for almost six months and saved her somewhere between $1,000 - $1,500.
But as taxpayers, it is costing you and me a bundle because the Federal government gave up its right to bargain with the industry.
As the article says:
James C. Greenwood, president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, another trade group, said, “There is a lot of pent-up animosity among Democrats against the pharmaceutical industry.”
So I recommend that you read the rest to learn how popular Democrats have become with the lobbyists of K Street.
I am pleased that the Democrats now have a share of power but citizens still need to watch out so that we don’t get a new boss, same as the old boss.
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