Some background on Corey Booker's vote, and his concerns

[ehrnst]

From a friend on the Hill:

Many sites are also making it out like Booker voted against BS's big bill that is on his website. That is incorrect.

This was an amendment that was the subject of the vote and was attempting to encourage legislation allowing people to import prescription drugs from Canada.

To give you some context, when the amendment was originally filed, it provided that people could import drugs from anywhere. Later it was amended and refiled to be limited to Canada.

Booker voted for a similar amendment that would allow the imports with a safety certification.

I understand some folks think there should be no safety certificate, but also bear in mind that these budget votes are not actual legislation, they are something akin to guidance on what types of legislation members think should be supported (a bit of a gimmick frankly).

There actually is a grey area between "Saint for president 2020" and "Demon Corporate Shill who should be primaried," and the fact that he was both in the space of 24 hours may indicate that there is something about this we should explore further.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. This

There actually is a grey area between "Saint for president 2020" and "Demon Corporate Shill who should be primaried," and the fact that he was both in the space of 24 hours may indicate that there is something about this we should explore further.

Yes - we should. I've a bit of problem with making Booker into the 'whipping boy' on this. I'm choosing those words 'whipping boy' very carefully.

And your friend on the hill - thank you . . . this was not a bill. This was not some ground breaking earth changing law.

[ehrnst]

3. Yes I understand.

And I think that white men are given a pass on pragmatic voting than women or people of color.

See also - voting for the Brady Bill five times while taking money from the NRA, and not being called a shill for their donors.

[Grey Lemercier]

2. Booker and Casey are both being disingenuous

So are any of the other 13 Dems Democrats who voted Nay on the Klobuchar amendment (the one everyone is wrongly giving the main credit to Bernie for, but thats another issue).

https://www.congress.gov/amendment/115th-congress/senate-amendment/188/actions

The Wyden Amemndment never made it to an actual vote for approval. It was ruled out of order. It is very disingenuous for Booker and Casey (and any other of the 13 Dems who voted against the Klobuchar Amendment) to say they voted Yes on the actual Wyden Amendment. They simply voted to allow it to be voted on via an exemption to the budgeting rules. If it had been granted that exception, they would have voted No in terms of actual passage. It's the old shell and pea game to cover their arse for doing big pharma dirty work.

Also, Klobuchar's Amendment language about drug importation was originally introduced in November, NOT 10 minutes before the vote. So Booker's excuse there us shot down.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/wonkette.com/610392/wtf-democrats-why-did-ted-cruz-vote-better-than-you-on-reducing-prescription-drug-costs/amp?client=ms-android-samsung

Here are the 13.

Michael Bennet (D-CO) – 2022
Cory Booker (D-NJ) – 2020
Maria Cantwell (D-WA) – 2018
Thomas R. Carper (D-DE) – 2018
Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA) – 2018
Chris Coons (D-DE) – 2020
Joe Donnelly (D-IN) – 2018
Martin Heinrich (D-NM) – 2018
Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) – 2018
Bob Menendez (D-NJ) – 2018
Patty Murray (D-WA) – 2022
Jon Tester (D-MT) – 2018
Mark Warner (D-VA) – 2020

[ehrnst]

6. I understand that there was an earlier version that allowed importing from all countries

as per the OP, that was amended and refiled to just include Canada.

The text of the Amendment said that it was filed on Jan 11.

[Grey Lemercier]

7. The specific Amendment that both Booker and Casey claimed to have voted Yes for was

Amendment 188. Thats the one I linked to. The Klobuchar Amendment they voted Nay on was 178.

Also, the 'saftey concerns' excuse is ludicrous, given the fact that liberal lions like Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, Al Franken and many other wonderful Democrats we’ve got in the Senate voted Yes on Klobuchar's version. If one thinks that those cream of the crop Senators would vote for something that would endanger the health of the American people, well I don't quite know what to say. Elizabeth Warren is peerless when it comes to consumer protection.

[ehrnst]

8. I guess that was different than voting against the Brady Bill five times

while taking money from the NRA. Because that Senator is considered to be completely devoid of any hint of voting against public safety for the continuance of his career.

Well, I don't know quite what to say.

[Grey Lemercier]

9. You have me at a loss, who are you talking about?

[ehrnst]

10. A white senator who is held up as an icon of someone who is beyond the influence of money. (nt)

[ehrnst]

12. As I recall, Elizabeth Warren was villified as a neoliberal by many when she endorsed Clinton

Not because of consumer safety - but because she didn't favor Bernie.

I'm hoping that the madness over this will subside once people take a look at his record, and stop reading articles that call amendment that Klobuchar introduced, and Bernie co-sponsored the "Sanders Amendment."

Also wondering what is going on with the entire bill that she co-sponsored with McCain on safe drug imports:

http://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E13A17CA-130A-4FB8-AB24-66BA4D0C176F

It's been introduced for a few years now, but suddenly the failure of an amendment is causing such outrage.

[uponit7771]

5. ++++++++THIS !!!! ++++++ I said I'll wait and the Corey hate post show they're BULLSHIT !!!!!!!!

[crazycatlady]

11. Background-- Big Pharma is a large employer in NJ

NJ's other senator (Bob Menendez) also voted against the amendment, as did PA senator Bob Casey (a lot of Pharma employees live in the Philly Suburbs and commute to NJ).

Edit-- changed bill to amendment

[ehrnst]

13. A bill is different than an amendment. This was about the vote on the amendment to a bill.

Below is a bill for the safe importation of Drugs from Canada, and has been introduced for a few years now:

http://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E13A17CA-130A-4FB8-AB24-66BA4D0C176F

[ehrnst]

15. Yes, much like a senator that got money from the NRA and represented a state that didn't like

waiting periods and voted against the Brady Bill five times.

But it seems that white male politicians get a pass when appearing to voting expediently in terms of their population and their donors.

[crazycatlady]

16. Well Booker's Latino male counterpart got a pass

[ehrnst]

18. True - however Booker is being singled out for opposing Bernie on an amendment

that was called "symbolic."

I also find it very interesting that an amendment that was authored by Amy Klobuchar, and co-authored by Sanders is being called a "Sanders Amendment" as though he is the real story.

[Hekate]

14. What you said. Jeez, people.

[NWCorona]

17. I share your concern about the piling on Cory. I've said in a previous post that I care about my

local Senators no votes on this but Cory Booker is the one who's on the national stage so I can see why he's getting most of the spotlight. Regardless, this amendment should have passed. Especially considering it was changed to only include Canadian drugs.

[ehrnst]

19. That presumes it's easy to determine that it's really coming from Canada

There is an entire bill on importing drugs from Canada that is not getting any attention. Of course Bernie's not involved with it, but it addresses safety issues.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/122

It includes this language that includes safeguards:

1) IN GENERAL.—In this section, an approved Canadian pharmacy is a pharmacy that—

“(A) is located in Canada; and

“(B) that the Secretary certifies—

“(i) is licensed to operate and dispense prescription drugs to individuals in Canada; and

“(ii) meets the criteria under paragraph (3).

“(2) PUBLICATION OF APPROVED CANADIAN PHARMACIES.—The Secretary shall publish on the Internet Web site of the Food and Drug Administration a list of approved Canadian pharmacies, including the Internet Web site address of each such approved Canadian pharmacy, from which individuals may purchase prescription drugs in accordance with subsection (a).

“(3) ADDITIONAL CRITERIA.—To be an approved Canadian pharmacy, the Secretary shall certify that the pharmacy—

“(A) has been in existence for a period of at least 5 years preceding the date of such certification and has a purpose other than to participate in the program established under this section;

“(B) operates in accordance with pharmacy standards set forth by the provincial pharmacy rules and regulations enacted in Canada;

“(C) has processes established by the pharmacy, or participates in another established process, to certify that the physical premises and data reporting procedures and licenses are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, and has implemented policies designed to monitor ongoing compliance with such laws and regulations;

“(D) conducts or commits to participate in ongoing and comprehensive quality assurance programs and implements such quality assurance measures, including blind testing, to ensure the veracity and reliability of the findings of the quality assurance program;

“(E) agrees that laboratories approved by the Secretary shall be used to conduct product testing to determine the safety and efficacy of sample pharmaceutical products;

“(F) has established, or will establish or participate in, a process for resolving grievances and will be held accountable for violations of established guidelines and rules;

“(G) does not resell products from online pharmacies located outside Canada to customers in the United States; and

“(H) meets any other criteria established by the Secretary.”.

[DemocraticWing]

20. His concerns are that from charter schools to healthcare, he votes with big corporations.

This has been obvious since he was mayor of Newark and tried to destroy the schools there. He's only a Democrat because it's easier to win as a Democrat in New Jersey.