Sinema Opposes Drug Bills After Receiving $750K in Donations From Big Pharma

[LukSkyFokker]

Sinema Opposes Drug Bills After Receiving $750K in Donations From Big Pharma


The Trumplitards like her even more now.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, the controversial Arizona Democrat who threatens to derail President Biden’s legislative agenda, received more than $750,000 in donations from the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. After that, she announced her opposition to a Democratic plan to lower prescription drug costs.

Sinema told White House officials that she opposes House and Senate bills that would allow Medicare to negotiate drug costs, sources told Politico this week. Democrats estimate these bills would save $450 billion over the next decade and thereby pay for a large portion of President Joe Biden’s $3.5 trillion spending plan. The budget bill would expand child care, health care and paid family leave and would fund programs to combat climate change, among other measures. Three House Democrats have also balked at the plan, although they have offered a “centrist” alternative that would drastically limit which drugs are subject to Medicare negotiation. Sinema reportedly opposes that proposal as well. During her successful 2018 Senate campaign, Sinema repeatedly vowed to lower prescription drug prices and drug costs for seniors.

Sinema is a longtime favorite of the pharmaceutical industry and now appears ready to undermine Biden’s entire agenda as Big Pharma wages a lobbying blitz in hopes of torpedoing the bill, which nearly 90% of voters support. Sinema and several House Democrats who oppose the drug pricing plan have received major financial support from the industry. Given a 50-50 Senate and a narrow House majority of 220 to 212 (with three seats currently vacant), their opposition could sink the proposal or even the entire budget bill.

Sinema has received $519,988 from PACs and individuals in the pharmaceutical industry throughout her political career, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics. She brought in more than $120,000 in pharma contributions between 2019 and 2020 even though she is not up for re-election until 2024. Sinema has also received $190,161 from donors in the pharmaceutical manufacturing space and $62,797 from the medical supplies industry.

Sinema’s office is led by a former lobbyist whose firm worked on behalf of pharmaceutical companies. The senator’s chief of staff, Meg Joseph, was a registered lobbyist and principal at Clark & Weinstock, where her clients included the health insurer Health Net. During her tenure, the company also lobbied on behalf of numerous pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, drug distributor AmerisourceBergen Corp., and the biotech firm Genzyme Corp. It also lobbied on behalf of Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and AdvaMed, two major industry trade groups.

 

[jomar]

Funny how that works. Ought to be a law.

 

[pecksniff]

Funny how that works. Ought to be a law.

Ought to be a law against donating money to election campaigns -- and against campaigns spending money. In France, every candidate gets an equal allotment of free TV time. That's how we should do it here.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Many members of Congress oppose the prescription drug proposal. It’s not exactly unusual for industry groups to support candidates that support their positions.

 

[LukSkyFokker]

Many members of Congress oppose the prescription drug proposal. It’s not exactly unusual for industry groups to support candidates that support their positions.

https://cdn.travelpulse.com/images/99999999-9999-9999-9999-999999999999/df58d5bd-dd76-e611-a9d3-0050568e420d/630x355.jpg

 

[butters]

sinema and manchin aren't honest to goodness democrats...they're far better suited to belonging to the republican party

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

sinema and manchin aren't honest to goodness democrats...they're far better suited to belonging to the republican party

Let’s hope they share your view and switch parties ASAP. Like tomorrow!

 

[bodysong]

There are many people pretending to be Republicans.

You can tell, when they attack Republican politicians - for not showing loyalty to Trump.

I feel sad for the remaining Republicans. MAGA are making their lives miserable.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

There are many people pretending to be Republicans.

You can tell, when they attack Republican politicians - for not showing loyalty to Trump.

I feel sad for the remaining Republicans. MAGA are making their lives miserable.

Agree. The Democratic Party needs more Joe Manchins and Kyrsten Sinemas. If the Dems don’t want them the GOP would welcome them.

 

[Bud_Spencer]

The long knives come out for the apostates.

Funny how John McCain is heralded as a "maverick" when he thwarts GOP initiatives, but Manchin and Sinema are reviled by that same media. It's almost as if they're rooting for one side or something.

 

[coati]

Right after all this happened, the drug companies came out with a big TV ad campaign in Arizona urging voters to call Senator Sinema and thank her for not allowing Medicare to make medical decisions that should be made by you and your doctor.

Damn, it sure is good to have the pharmaceutical industry and Sinema protecting access to high dividends from pharma stock holdings. It's a dog-eat-dog world, and those who cannot afford drugs need to die off quickly and get the hell out of the way.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

She blasted the far left Dems for failing to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill. She and Joe Manchin are Mavericks.

 

[jomar]

She blasted the far left Dems for failing to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill. She and Joe Manchin are Mavericks.

If lobbyist money makes one so, then ok.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Every member of the Senate accepts donations from special interest groups. Nothing nefarious about it. Industry and trade groups, unions, pro-abortion groups, anti-abortion groups, pro-2A civil rights groups, anti civil rights groups, etc.

 

[Cubantripod]

You must see Trump every time you close your eyes.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...-lower-prescription-drug-prices-idUSKCN24P2JA

 

[jomar]

Every member of the Senate accepts donations from special interest groups. Nothing nefarious about it. Industry and trade groups, unions, pro-abortion groups, anti-abortion groups, pro-2A civil rights groups, anti civil rights groups, etc.

They are buying influence. And in her case it apparently worked.

You must see Trump every time you close your eyes.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...-lower-prescription-drug-prices-idUSKCN24P2JA

Good for trump. I support that. But why didn’t he push harder as a great deal maker. And why did he wait until he was in a reelection fight?

 

[YDB95]

The long knives come out for the apostates.

Funny how John McCain is heralded as a "maverick" when he thwarts GOP initiatives, but Manchin and Sinema are reviled by that same media. It's almost as if they're rooting for one side or something.

Indeed. The press always was ridiculously partial to McCain.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Now the lefties are following her into bathrooms. She’s more powerful than Biden, and her urine attracts progressives.