So, Now Drug Companies Are Good Guys In The Health Care Battle?

[MyUncle]

This story is the biggest surprise I've had in this struggle.

Drugmakers May Fund $100 Million Ad Campaign on Health Overhaul




http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aHMaDF4PRvMQ

Drugmakers may ramp up their push for an overhaul of the U.S. health care system by spending $100 million on ads starting as early as September, said a person familiar with the discussion.

The Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America, the industry lobbying group, discussed funding the advertising campaign during a meeting last week in Washington, the person said. PhRMA senior vice president Ken Johnson said no decision has been reached on the group’s campaign strategy for when Congress reconvenes after the August recess.

PhRMA will be running television commercials in August, in states where pharmaceutical companies have operations, asserting the importance of the drug industry for the economy, Johnson said. The drugmakers, by offering to lower drugs costs by $80 billion over 10 years, became one of the first industries to reach an agreement with the Obama administration in its efforts to revamp the health-care system.

WTF, politics indeed make for strange bedfellows.

I DO NOT like this news one bit. I don't trust big pharma, the sell out here stinks.

[BlooInBloo]

1. Aargh.

[babylonsister]

2. What's the sell out? nt

[countingbluecars]

3. With more people insured,

drugmakers sell more drugs.

[FrenchieCat]

4. Doh! I thought it would take a brain surgeon to figure that one out!

Seems like if folks aren't forced to cut up their tablets of medicine in half, the bottle will get used up that much faster.

And thinking of all of the uninsured folks that currently can barely afford an advil, let alone prescription drugs.

[MyUncle]

5. I need a score card.

I should just "trust the force". But, I'm just not wired that way.

Pieces of legislation like this get done by deals.

What is shocking about this deal is that the drug companies are spending almost as much as Obama did on his entire Presidential TV campaign.

They have a horse in this race.

So, that is just OK with everyone?

[snake in the grass]

6. 100 million...

...that could be used to treat the sick!

[Hugin]

7. Well, that explains why my prescriptions have almost doubled in price over the past few months.

One has gone up 40% and the other an astounding 60%.

We're not talking a few cents either, that's almost $100 more a month out of my pocket.

[cornermouse]

8. I would consider this an indicator of how bad we're losing.

[MyUncle]

9. How bad we are losing?

Just curious about what you are alluding to, the fact that this is being discussed or the fact that drug companies might spend more the $!50 million dollars to help pass this legislation?

Is it just me?

This is an obscene amount of money to throw around on "air".