Democrats’ Hopes For Drug Pricing Bill Slips As Biden Pushes Other Priorities
President Joe Biden is expected to omit drug pricing proposals from his budget plan later this week, and Democratic lawmakers are at odds on what bills they can support. But that isn't stopping drugmakers from launching a major ad campaign attacking efforts to rein in their prices.
Los Angeles Times:
Democrats Promised To Lower Drug Prices, But Plans Are Sputtering
With control of Congress and the White House, Democrats have an opportunity to bring down prescription drug prices, addressing one of voters’ top concerns and finally fulfilling a campaign pledge Speaker Nancy Pelosi made to voters 15 years ago. Despite widespread support among Democrats, the idea has sputtered, however, as President Biden left it out of his infrastructure plan and is expected to leave it out of his budget while congressional Democrats remain noncommittal about how they might enact it. The initiative has fallen victim to extremely slim majorities and division among Democrats. (Haberkorn and Stokols, 5/26)
Roll Call:
Democrats Try To Counter Attack Ads Over Drug Prices
Facing a $5 million barrage of ads attacking their health care plans as “socialist,” Democrats are hitting back with a “five-figure” digital campaign thanking members in battleground districts for supporting a bill they say would lower the cost of prescription drugs. The ads, launched Tuesday by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, come as groups from both sides of the aisle are waging a messaging war over a Democratic proposal that would allow Medicare to negotiate prices for a subset of drugs with drugmakers based on average prices in certain foreign countries. (Akin and McIntire, 5/25)
In other health news from Capitol Hill —
NPR:
Kevin McCarthy Leads House GOP In Blasting Marjorie Taylor Greene's Holocaust Remarks
Nearly four months after condemning Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's comments on antisemitic conspiracy theories, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is once again rejecting the Georgia Republican's rhetoric — this time over her equating of COVID-19 safety measures with the treatment of Jews during the Holocaust. (Sprunt, 5/25)
The Hill:
Environmental Issues At Center Of New Mexico Special Election
Environmental issues are taking center stage in New Mexico’s upcoming special election, where the Democratic Party is looking to maintain its hold on a seat previously held by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. Democratic candidate Melanie Stansbury, a state legislator, is leaning on her experience as an environmental science professional as she looks to defeat Republican state Sen. Mark Moores in the June 1 election, underscoring the importance of issues relating to water infrastructure and public lands in a blue district with a sizeable Native American population. (Budryk, 5/26)
