In Era Of Public Rage Over Drug Prices, Cory Booker Is Haunted By His Past Relationship With ‘Big Pharma’
As Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) eyes the 2020 White House race, he's scrambling to mitigate any damage that may have been done by his decision to accept campaign donations from pharmaceutical companies. As public outrage boils over about high drug prices, most presidential contenders, such as Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), are trying to get in front of the issue by offering plans they believe will demonstrate a hard stance against Big Pharma.
Stat:
Cory Booker Looks To Shake His Reputation For Drug Industry Coziness
For the past two years, [Cory] Booker has been repeatedly reminded of that kind of anger over high drug prices — and hounded by criticism that he has an overly cozy relationship with the pharma industry. Last week, the hosts of “Pod Save America,” a progressive political podcast, said he had taken “a bad vote on pharmaceuticals.” A viral Facebook video viewed nearly a quarter-million times questions whether Booker is a “Big Pharma” candidate. And on the left-leaning “Breakfast Club” radio show last week, Booker was pointedly asked whether he could be trusted to hold large pharmaceutical companies accountable. That reputation, deserved or not, could become a major political liability for Booker, particularly at a time of concern over drug prices and in a race with other progressive lawmakers like Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders whose disdain for large drug companies is palpable. (Facher, 2/12)
The Washington Post:
Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s 2020 Policy Agenda: Lower Drug Costs, Prepare For ‘Digital Disruption,’ Expand Savings Accounts
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is running for president on a policy agenda of lowering prescription drug costs, expanded savings accounts to help people save for their educations, and a slew of Internet-related policies, including expanding rural broadband and tougher privacy laws, according to aides to the senator. Klobuchar, who has withheld her support from the more liberal proposals made by Democratic lawmakers, will also push for automatically registering all eligible voters, an overhaul of election security, and committing the United States to the Paris agreement to combat climate change, aides said. (Stein, 2/11)
Meanwhile —
The Wall Street Journal:
Medicare For All Bill Puts Pressure On Democrats’ 2020 Field
House Democrats are planning to unveil Medicare for All legislation soon, turning up the heat on Democratic presidential candidates facing questions over how far they want to go in embracing a national government health system. The bill from Rep. Pramila Jayapal and other House Democrats is expected to closely mirror a Senate Medicare for All bill from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), which would expand government-run health insurance to all and do away with the current system of employer-provided coverage. At the same time, more than 100 organizing events will take place this week nationwide to help build grass-roots support for Medicare for All. (Armour, 2/11)
