Advertisements from seemingly independent advocacy groups are swamping Beltway newspapers with dire warning that recent proposals to lower drug prices will lead to dangerous consequences. In the last week alone, the ads have appeared in the Washington Post, Washington Times, Roll Call, The Hill, and Politico.
The groups placing the ads have no obvious connection to pharmaceutical companies. For instance, the American Conservative Union (ACU), one of the organizations taking out an ad, describes itself as devoted to promoting “liberty, personal responsibility, traditional values, and strong national defense.”
But unbeknownst to readers, the organizations have undisclosed financial ties to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the umbrella lobbying group that represents the biggest names in the drug industry, including Merck, Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Purdue Pharma, and Eli Lilly.
The ads have appeared as legislators are taking up proposals designed to lower drug prices — potentially cutting into the profits of the big drugmakers. A bill proposed by Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., would reverse a 2003 law that prohibits Medicare from using its collective bargaining power to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices. The ban on negotiation was originally authored by legislators working closely with PhRMA lobbyists, and the sponsor of the ban later became a PhRMA lobbyist.
Lose the lobbyists! All of them.
More parasites in government are not needed.
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Like blood ticks.
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For once, not a single article in today’s TNYT looked interesting enough to read.
Jaded or wise?
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Article burnout.
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Took 14 minutes again.
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Daily total of 27 minutes. Drizzle stopped.
Day 4: 104+27=131 minutes.
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Pete came over this morning. He took the snow fence down for us, did a couple of other jobs we’re getting too old to do, like exchanging the living room DVD player for the one in the bedroom, which no one uses. He also brought the Wii up from the basement in case we feel the need to play a video game, like bowling. That’s our favorite Wii game.
Then Pete ate my Shrimp Pasta and we all watched a movie, “Hacksaw Ridge,” about a conscientious objector from Virginia during WWII. I LOVED that movie! I started getting teary-eyed at the beginning, WAY more choked up at the end. It was a true story. I’ll pass it along to Jill.
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It’s been raining off and on all day, now I hear it back again, the 3rd wettest winter of all time, as far as the records go anyhow, excessive sogginess.
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Even this you can blame on global warming.
Drizzle here.
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I’m not sure if this is a trend.
70 foot deep snow up the hill in places, lets hope it melts slowly.
Billy the goat likes it:
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The trend is towards more extremes. One winter like this following many on many with little precipitation, for you.
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