New York Times Reveals How Big Pharma Lobbyists Manipulate Health Care Reform

TruthWillSetUFree · 11-25-2009, 12:13 AM

Happy Thanksgiving
Posted by: Dr. Mercola
November 26 2009 | 1,015 views

Do you believe escalating prescription drug costs will go down with health care reform? I wouldn't count on it…

As a sobering example of how members of Congress can be spoon-fed the views and even the exact words of high-powered lobbying firms, consider remarks inserted into the Congressional Record after the debate and vote on health care reform in the House.

Statements by more than a dozen lawmakers were ghostwritten, in whole or in part, by Washington lobbyists working for Genentech, one of the world’s largest biotechnology companies.

E-mail messages obtained by The New York Times show that the lobbyists drafted one statement for Democrats and another for Republicans.

The lobbyists, employed by Genentech and by two Washington law firms, were remarkably successful in getting the statements printed in the Congressional Record under the names of different members of Congress.

The apparent goal was to show that, even though there were sharp divisions between the parties on the overall reform bill (only one Republican voted for it), there was bipartisan support for provisions relating to drugs produced by the biotechnology industry. One provision, for example, would allow generic competition to expensive biological drugs but only after the original manufacturer had enjoyed 12 years of exclusive use, a generous period by anyone’s standards.

Asked about the Congressional statements, a lobbyist close to Genentech said: “This happens all the time. There was nothing nefarious about it.”

Sources:

New York Times November 14, 2009

New York Times November 16, 2009

THE eXchanger · 11-25-2009, 02:36 AM

the markups on drugs are insane !!!

(even worse, than gas)

11-25-2009, 12:13 AM	#1
TruthWillSetUFree Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 673	New York Times Reveals How Big Pharma Lobbyists Manipulate Health Care Reform Happy Thanksgiving Posted by: Dr. Mercola November 26 2009 \| 1,015 views Do you believe escalating prescription drug costs will go down with health care reform? I wouldn't count on it… As a sobering example of how members of Congress can be spoon-fed the views and even the exact words of high-powered lobbying firms, consider remarks inserted into the Congressional Record after the debate and vote on health care reform in the House. Statements by more than a dozen lawmakers were ghostwritten, in whole or in part, by Washington lobbyists working for Genentech, one of the world’s largest biotechnology companies. E-mail messages obtained by The New York Times show that the lobbyists drafted one statement for Democrats and another for Republicans. The lobbyists, employed by Genentech and by two Washington law firms, were remarkably successful in getting the statements printed in the Congressional Record under the names of different members of Congress. The apparent goal was to show that, even though there were sharp divisions between the parties on the overall reform bill (only one Republican voted for it), there was bipartisan support for provisions relating to drugs produced by the biotechnology industry. One provision, for example, would allow generic competition to expensive biological drugs but only after the original manufacturer had enjoyed 12 years of exclusive use, a generous period by anyone’s standards. Asked about the Congressional statements, a lobbyist close to Genentech said: “This happens all the time. There was nothing nefarious about it.” Sources: New York Times November 14, 2009 New York Times November 16, 2009

11-25-2009, 02:36 AM	#2
THE eXchanger Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Spiritual eXplorer-Canada Posts: 4,915	Re: New York Times Reveals How Big Pharma Lobbyists Manipulate Health Care Reform the markups on drugs are insane !!! (even worse, than gas)