Liberals rip Democratic leaders for writing drug pricing bill in secret

[brooklynite]

Source: The Hill

Progressive House Democrats are growing increasingly frustrated with their party’s leadership, accusing them of writing Democrats’ signature bill to lower prescription drug prices in secret and without their input.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) compared the process around Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) drug pricing measure to the secrecy surrounding the GOP’s ObamaCare repeal bill in 2017, when Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) famously wheeled a photocopier across the Capitol in a dramatized search for the hidden legislation.

...snip...

At issue is a plan Pelosi’s office has been working on for months that would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, a top priority for Democrats and one that the party stressed in its campaign last year to win back the House.

There is now an intense debate within the Democratic caucus over the details of that proposal, with the Progressive Caucus pushing for a bill authored by Doggett that it says is stronger because it would strip a company of its monopoly on a drug if the manufacturer refuses to agree to a reasonable price in Medicare negotiations.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/447210-liberals-rip-democratic-leaders-for-writing-drug-pricing-bill-in-secret

[The Mouth]

1. *THIS* is where we should fight

If we don't get a STRONG, highly progressive bill, with full support out of the house, we need to hold every son of a bitch that doesn't support this accountable in the primaries.

No compromise, no surrender, this is THE issue to beat the Republicans over the head with.

[Maxheader]

2. The pharmy corps have the americun govt by the short ones...

You won't see drug prices come down until the house and senate get rid of
the leashes around their necks...both parties...

[vsrazdem]

3. With their Big Pharma donations, this is not surprising.

Donations in 2018

https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?ind=H04&cycle=2018&recipdetail=H&mem=Y

[Raster]

4. Keep it up, Team Dem....

...there can be 1,000 AOCs in the next four years.

[Duppers]

11. And yet some Dems are critical of AOC!!

[George II]

8. Give us a break. Is the cashier at CVS or Walgreen's "Big Pharma"? THEY are included....

....in those numbers, along with the people who stock the shelves, mop the floors, answer the phones, etc.

NO one can give more than the maximum established by the FEC.

[vsrazdem]

9. Sorry you can't figure it out. Go to the right and put in Pharmaceutical Manufacturers.

If you really think these are all just small mom and pop drug stores and individuals you are seriously in denial. The money is pretty much the same, and no, I will not give them a break on continuing to screw the American people because they don't want to lose their PAC money.

[IronLionZion]

10. That money is mostly from PACs and executives

The numbers on this page are based on contributions from PACs and individuals giving $200 or more.

The common workers are not donating the big bucks.

[Gumboot]

14. Many thanks for posting that link.

I'd never seen that site before. And I guess many of Beto O'Rourke's fans haven't, either.

[Progressive dog]

5. The only way to strip a company of a legal drug monopoly

is to void the patent. That is not a price negotiation, it is price dictation. The only drug companies that would accept the right to manufacture a patented drug are overseas. Some of them already do that. That does move jobs out of the USA.
We do need laws, or at least stronger enforcement of existing law, to make it easier to stop companies from gaming the patent system. We won't get a negotiation process based on coercion.

[Politicub]

6. Medicare should get the lowest price. Period.

Companies that sell services to the government, via the GSA, are bound (I think) to offer the lowest price that they offer to private companies.

Drug companies should be held to a higher standard, by taking into account the volume of drugs used by people covered by Medicare and the VA.

It's ridiculous. But we know why... $$$$

[George II]

7. Another attack on our Democratic leadership. Once the bill is completed and introduced....

....it will be discussed/debated in committee AND on the floor of the House. Any of those who are making this complaint can write and introduce amendments to the bill.

THAT is how the process works!

If Doggett has a "stronger" bill, let him introduce it and see where it goes.

[Mr.Bill]

12. Exactly.

You don't put 200+ people into a room to write a bill.

[FiveGoodMen]

13. Gee, if the GOP had done that, what would we be saying here?