Big Pharma buys off the Senate

[gonzoliberal]

Is anyone surprised?

An eleventh-hour loophole in the "fiscal cliff" deal confirms our worst suspicions about how Congress operates.

excerpt;

...

In his inaugural address, Barack Obama said the commitments we make to each other through Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security don’t make us a nation of takers. But the actions of Amgen and its cronies under the dome on Capitol Hill show who the real takers are — not those who look to government for support in old age and hard times but the ones at the top whose avarice and lust for profit compel them to take as much as they can from that government at the expense of everyone else.

...

[SemiAuto]

I'm not surprised. What I do find surprising is that this is often how Washington works yet there are people who actually want the Federal government to have more power.

[ivanbalt]

Isn't this what the people want? Otherwise, why would they keep voting Democrat and Republican?

[Jeebus]

Don't hypocritically ignore the stench of lobbyist payoffs coming from the White House either.

White House Opens Door to Big Donors, and Lobbyists Slip In

David Beier, who oversees government affairs at the pharmaceutical company Amgen, has had nearly a dozen meetings at the White House, according to the visitor logs. On a single day in February last year, Mr. Beier, Amgen’s chief executive, Kevin W. Sharer, and lobbyists from the Podesta Group, the firm led by the Democratic fund-raiser Tony Podesta, had four meetings with top White House officials, including Ms. Jarrett, Pete Rouse and Austan Goolsbee. Mr. Beier — who was registered to lobby for Amgen for 10 years until last year — donated $35,800 in January, his largest such contribution. The donation came two weeks after he and Mr. Podesta visited the White House for another meeting with an economic official.

Amgen declined to comment, but lobbying disclosure reports show that the company hired the Podesta Group to press the White House and Congress on Medicare coverage and reimbursement for drugs for end-stage renal disease, among other issues.

[SemiAuto]

Obamacare Architect Leaves White House for Pharmaceutical Industry Job.

Conflict-of-interest concerns raised as Obama races to implement health reform.

And don't even get started on what goes on with defense. We'd be here for years listing out the cronyism that goes on between defense contractors and congress critters.

[Contumacious]

Is anyone surprised?

An eleventh-hour loophole in the "fiscal cliff" deal confirms our worst suspicions about how Congress operates.

excerpt;

...

In his inaugural address, Barack Obama said the commitments we make to each other through Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security don’t make us a nation of takers. But the actions of Amgen and its cronies under the dome on Capitol Hill show who the real takers are — not those who look to government for support in old age and hard times but the ones at the top whose avarice and lust for profit compel them to take as much as they can from that government at the expense of everyone else.

...

Hummmmmmmmmmmmmm


Very interrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrresting


WHy is it that the President of the US can use US treasury funds to buy votes but Big Pharma can not buy influence?!?!?!!?!?

.

[CajunRaven]

Is anyone surprised?

An eleventh-hour loophole in the "fiscal cliff" deal confirms our worst suspicions about how Congress operates.

excerpt;

...

In his inaugural address, Barack Obama said the commitments we make to each other through Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security don’t make us a nation of takers. But the actions of Amgen and its cronies under the dome on Capitol Hill show who the real takers are — not those who look to government for support in old age and hard times but the ones at the top whose avarice and lust for profit compel them to take as much as they can from that government at the expense of everyone else.

...

I'm shocked I tell ya, shocked.

Anyboy wonder how ACA will really go?

[musicmd]

Hummmmmmmmmmmmmm


Very interrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrresting


WHy is it that the President of the US can use US treasury funds to buy votes but Big Pharma can not buy influence?!?!?!!?!?

.

Well, go ask the president.

[Contumacious]

Well, go ask the president.

WHy is it that the President of the US can use US treasury funds to buy votes but Big Pharma can not buy influence?!?!?!!?!?

Why isn't gonzoliberal - or any liberal for that matter - objecting to the the fact that the President is using US Treasury funds to buy votes?

.

[gonzoliberal]

Why isn't gonzoliberal - or any liberal for that matter - objecting to the the fact that the President is using US Treasury funds to buy votes?

.

Link?

How, pray tell, is he doing that?

[musicmd]

Don't hypocritically ignore the stench of lobbyist payoffs coming from the White House either.

White House Opens Door to Big Donors, and Lobbyists Slip In

You nailed him, good for you. Impeach him.

[musicmd]

Why isn't gonzoliberal - or any liberal for that matter - objecting to the the fact that the President is using US Treasury funds to buy votes?

.

Four more years, have him impeach. By the way, do you have a link?

Just more lip service. Are you drinking ?

[Brohan]

Wow, Big Pharma has been lining the pockets of sellouts for a while...how transparent.



Internal Memo Confirms Big Giveaways In White House Deal With Big Pharma
First Posted: 09/13/09 06:12 AM ET Updated: 05/25/11 02:50 PM ET

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A memo obtained by the Huffington Post confirms that the White House and the pharmaceutical lobby secretly agreed to precisely the sort of wide-ranging deal that both parties have been denying over the past week.

The memo, which according to a knowledgeable health care lobbyist was prepared by a person directly involved in the negotiations, lists exactly what the White House gave up, and what it got in return.

It says the White House agreed to oppose any congressional efforts to use the government's leverage to bargain for lower drug prices or import drugs from Canada -- and also agreed not to pursue Medicare rebates or shift some drugs from Medicare Part B to Medicare Part D, which would cost Big Pharma billions in reduced reimbursements.

In exchange, the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers Association (PhRMA) agreed to cut $80 billion in projected costs to taxpayers and senior citizens over ten years. Or, as the memo says: "Commitment of up to $80 billion, but not more than $80 billion."

[Contumacious]

Link?

How, pray tell, is he doing that?

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BUDGET
$932,234,000.00

What do you think will happen to any presidential candidate who threatens to remove one penny from that stash?

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