| Dear Katy, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi just announced her support for a confusing, complicated prescription drug plan that will help Big Pharma continue making billions from high drug prices.1 Even though there are powerful progressive proposals to bring drug prices down, Pelosi's top health care aide spent weeks seeking to cut a deal with the Trump administration. And in a recent meeting of House Democrats, Pelosi officially announced her support for the proposal – and said the House would move on the legislation quickly after the Memorial Day recess.2,3 Pelosi's plan would give Trump a rare win while undercutting the progressive plans that would actually tackle Big Pharma's monopoly. We must ramp up the pressure on every House Democrat to reject her Big Pharma handout. Tell House Democrats: Don't help Speaker Pelosi reward Big Pharma. Stand with progressives to break Big Pharma monopolies. Click here to sign the petition. Earlier this year, Pelosi's top health policy aide assured industry executives they didn't need to worry about Medicare for All. Another advisor is a lobbyist for pharmaceutical benefit managers and represents many of the same companies running attack ads opposing Medicare for All. This is not a team capable of producing policies that put the American people above corporate interests.4,5 Under the Pelosi plan, the Department of Health and Human Services would negotiate with Big Pharma on only 25 drug prices each year. If they cannot come to an agreement, another agency would set a price through some undisclosed and potentially corporate-friendly process. The next year, Big Pharma could raise the price all over again.6 It's not like Pelosi doesn't have other options. CREDO members have spoken out in force in support of several truly progressive plans to break the power of Big Pharma monopolies and lower drug prices. Sen. Warren's plan would direct the government to manufacture generic drugs. Sens. Sanders and Merkley and Rep. Ro Khanna would force companies to follow international average prices or face tough consequences. Rep. Lloyd Doggett's bill would allow Medicare to negotiate discounts, and let the government issue a license to a competitor to produce a generic version of the drug if Big Pharma refuses to negotiate in good faith.7,8 Pelosi's preferred plan is a giveaway that would allow Big Pharma to maintain its bloodsucking grip on our medical system – and she needs to hear immediately from progressives and her fellow Democrats how terrible her approach is. Can you add your name today to tell House Democrats not to help Speaker Pelosi reward Big Pharma? Click below to sign the petition: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/pelosi-pharma-house-dems?t=9&akid=32730%2E12967895%2Ej307wT Thank you for speaking out, Heidi Hess, Co-Director
CREDO Action from Working Assets Add your name: References: - David Dayen, "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Drug Prices," May 24, 2019.
- Ibid.
- Zach Carter and Daniel Marans, "Nancy Pelosi Plans To Go Easy On Big Pharma," HuffPost, May 23, 2019.
- David Dayen, "Nancy Pelosi's Drug-Pricing Talks with the Trump Administration Are About Mediating Fights Between Corporate Interests," The Intercept, April 22, 2019.
- Carter and Marans, "Democrats Ran On Lowering Drug Prices. Now They Could Cut A Bad Deal With Donald Trump."
- Dayen, "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Drug Prices."
- Dayen, "Nancy Pelosi's Drug-Pricing Talks with the Trump Administration Are About Mediating Fights Between Corporate Interests."
- Carter and Marans, "Democrats Ran On Lowering Drug Prices. Now They Could Cut A Bad Deal With Donald Trump."
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