More bribes to big pharma
Senate rejects plan to import low-cost drugs
WASHINGTON – The Senate rejected a plan Tuesday to allow Americans to import low-cost prescriptions from abroad, handing drug makers a victory that may help secure passage of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.
The vote on the amendment by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., was 51-48 in favor, but 60 votes were needed to prevail under a special rule. Obama had supported the measure as a senator, but his administration echoed safety concerns raised by the pharmaceutical industry – which is supporting the Democrats’ health care bill.
An angry Dorgan denounced a competing amendment that would permit drug imports if the Food and Drug Administration certifies it can be done without risks.
Though Obama supported the importation of low-price drugs when he was running for the White House last year, the FDA last week criticized Dorgan’s proposal for not doing enough to ensure that drugs entering the U.S. from abroad will be safe. Dorgan countered that his amendment had strong safeguards, allowing imports only of FDA-approved drugs from FDA-approved foreign plants.</em>
Stop giving away the store to these creeps. Nationalize ‘em. They don’t like competition, we’ll take care of that.
