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Hillarysworld -> Health Care Issues -> Democrats' Bedfellows On Health Care Reform (Forbes 9/1/09)
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TOPIC: Democrats' Bedfellows On Health Care Reform (Forbes 9/1/09)
JustTheFacts


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Democrats' Bedfellows On Health Care Reform (Forbes 9/1/09)
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Health care is big business, over one-sixth of the U.S. economy. Health care reform is big news this summer, as President Barack Obama's reform agenda has hit the skids. The blame lies not with Republicans' lack of support but with Democrats avoiding the opportunity to use their political momentum won last fall, and instead settling in with good, old-fashioned, "I'll scratch your back if you'll scratch mine" politics.

The failure to get a bill thus far is not from lack of understanding of the problem, or a lack of proposed solutions for reform. Despite the sound bites in the media, the problem is not "partisan politics as usual." Republicans have come to embrace health care as a winning political issue. It was Republicans who enacted a prescription drug benefit for seniors and created health savings accounts for those under 65 as an insurance option that promotes saving and consumer responsibility.

The problem facing congressional Democrats in their effort to push health care reform lies with their blatant endorsement of the agenda of narrow special interests. While Obama has stated his desire for an open and transparent debate, what is emerging now is the extent to which Democrats are letting the health care legislation be written by their old friends, organized labor, and their new friends, the brand-name pharmaceutical companies. Poll numbers show the voters are beginning to catch on, and they are growing wary of the "change" in Washington as a result.

These "friends" of Democrats are cashing in their political chips after "investing" millions of dollars in the politics of Washington to ensure protection of their own, narrow agenda.




No one should be surprised that union leaders are looking out for their own best interests. And no one should be surprised by Democrats rushing out to help them.

Enter the political heavyweights PhRMA and BIO. Armed with one of the largest lobbying budgets in Washington, these two trade associations have invested millions in contributions to candidates and lobbying activities. Democrats in Congress are now embracing a pathway for generic biologics handcrafted by the name-brand drug industry, legislation with the sole aim of ensuring excess profits by limiting new market entrants.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee recently adopted an amendment, endorsed by PhRMA and BIO, to the Democrats' health care bill that guarantees biologic drug companies 12 years of monopoly protection in addition to the existing patent protection these products enjoy. The only rationale for such a lengthy period of monopoly is to guarantee that the established players maintain their dominance.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/31/health-care-reform-lobbying-biologics-opinions-contributors-phrma.html 



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Alex


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JustTheFacts wrote:

The problem facing congressional Democrats in their effort to push health care reform lies with their blatant endorsement of the agenda of narrow special interests. While Obama has stated his desire for an open and transparent debate, what is emerging now is the extent to which Democrats are letting the health care legislation be written by their old friends, organized labor, and their new friends, the brand-name pharmaceutical companies. Poll numbers show the voters are beginning to catch on, and they are growing wary of the "change" in Washington as a result.

These "friends" of Democrats are cashing in their political chips after "investing" millions of dollars in the politics of Washington to ensure protection of their own, narrow agenda.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee recently adopted an amendment, endorsed by PhRMA and BIO, to the Democrats' health care bill that guarantees biologic drug companies 12 years of monopoly protection in addition to the existing patent protection these products enjoy. The only rationale for such a lengthy period of monopoly is to guarantee that the established players maintain their dominance.



You know, saying "I told you so" just never gets old.  Too bad it's on such negative things!  Better we could say "I told you so" on "Gummy bears and Oreos have no calories when eaten in front of the computer!hmm
I just have the gummi bears, dug out from a bowl on top of the fridge.  I'm just wishing for the Oreos.wink

 



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Hillarysmygirl16


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I am not surprised.  The democrats are the ones who are going to be surprised next year.

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