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Baucus' Base: Big Pharma

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Mon Sep 14, 2009 at 09:39:26 AM EST
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Brian Beutler:

According to the New York Times, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America will spend $150 million specifically boosting for the health care reform proposal introduced last week by Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT). PhRMA has already spent millions on ads supporting the idea of reform more generically. But now that Baucus has come forward with an industry friendly proposal of his own--one that's significantly less progressive than the other proposals in Congress--PhRMA's throwing it's weight specifically behind his plan.

I'm old enough to remember when candidate Obama railed against special interests and taking lobbyist money. Those were the days . . .

Speaking for me only

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    Baucus' Base: Big Pharma | 7 comments (7 topical)

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    Honestly, back then - when Obama (none / 0) (#1)
    by inclusiveheart on Mon Sep 14, 2009 at 09:45:22 AM EST
    railed against the special interests and lobbyists, I thought, "He doth protest too much."

    I dunno.  It was just a feeling.

    Looks like I will be playing to support (none / 0) (#2)
    by MO Blue on Mon Sep 14, 2009 at 09:55:17 AM EST
    a plan that I abhor whether I like it or not. The hundreds of million of dollars spent by PhRMA on these ads are not going to come out of executive bonuses. The cost are going to be recouped by increasing the price of prescription drugs.

    More coffee needed (none / 0) (#3)
    by MO Blue on Mon Sep 14, 2009 at 10:01:18 AM EST
    Looks like I will be paying to support


    Parent
    I took it to mean (none / 0) (#4)
    by hookfan on Mon Sep 14, 2009 at 10:12:30 AM EST
    playin' a fiddle while begging in the street

    Parent
    That's pretty good (none / 0) (#5)
    by MO Blue on Mon Sep 14, 2009 at 10:23:47 AM EST
    Although if I had to rely on my musical talent (playing or singing), I'd starve.

    Parent
    Beginning to figure it out, are you? (none / 0) (#6)
    by Ric Locke on Mon Sep 14, 2009 at 10:30:46 AM EST
    Big Business will always support things like this. I know that doesn't fit your preconceived notions of how the World works, but it's true.

    The most unrealistic part of the Progressive worldview is and has always been seeing Government and Big Business as two distinct and antagonistic things. They aren't. They're both hatched from the same egg, they both work the same way, and they are allies more often than not.

    Big Business will support "health care reform" because:

    1. If the Government pays for it they don't have to, and that's a big boost to the Bottom Line.

    2. They've already got a lot of money and influence, and are confident that they can shift the costs away from themselves by concentrating on "campaign contributions" for the politicians.

    3. The added taxes and administrative burdens will fall most heavily on their smaller competitors, who haven't built up the influence (see point 2) and don't have legions of lawyers and accountants to deal with it.

    Further thoughts here.

    Regards,
    Ric

    Big Business (none / 0) (#7)
    by waldenpond on Mon Sep 14, 2009 at 11:28:34 AM EST
    Baucus' is big business.  He took his plan to K st before he gave details to the Senate or the President and has made a grab at the energy bill (clean coal anyone?)  Want to be the favorability in pollution credits continues for coal?

    Baucus' Base: Big Pharma | 7 comments (7 topical)

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