Guest guest Posted February 22, 2004 Report Share Posted February 22, 2004 MEDICARE FOR LOBBYISTS SOURCE: Palm Beach Post, February 12, 2004 http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/auto/epaper/editions/thursd ay/opinion_04a2db8a763221da00b4.html Rep. Tauzin delivered a $540 billion prescription-drug benefit for Medicare. Now, the Louisiana Republican is leaving Congress for a $2 million-a-year job in the drug industry. When it comes to exposing your principles, Rep. Tauzin makes Janet look coy. Rep. Tauzin, facing the end of his term as chairman of the House Science and Commerce Committee, pushed through passage of the Medicare bill in December and announced his resignation in February. He sets a standard that will be hard to top. He easily bested the mark of Scully, the White House Medicare chief who interviewed for his new drug-lobbyist position while still making Medicare policy. The elderly, torn by the AARP's support for the bill and its subsequent demand that one of the bill's main provisions be reversed, won't know for years whether the Medicare drug options will help them live longer. But for Rep. Tauzin, Mr. Scully and the drug industry, there's no question that the law is going to pay off in a big way. Stock prices in drug companies surged on passage of the bill. The securities firm Goldman Sachs estimated the bill would increase spending on prescription drugs by about $13 billion a year. The law specifically bans the government from using its buying power to negotiate lower drug costs, which could have locked the industry into lower prices not just for Medicare drugs but for drugs for all Americans. To make it even more difficult for the elderly to obtain affordable medicine, it continues the ban on buying cheaper drugs from Canada. Rep. Tauzin turned down a $1 million a year offer to head the Motion Picture Association of America, for which he worked to relax media ownership rules. Instead, he is expected to take a $2 million-a-year job -- $2.5 million by some accounts -- to work for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The group represents large drug manufacturers such as Eli Lilly and Merck. From PhRMA's point of view, who better to represent its interests when Congress considers revamping the law? The public's point of view is somewhat different. Rep. Tauzin looks like someone who should be investigated for delivering favors in exchange for a high-paying job. Washington's revolving door always leaves the public on the outside. _________________________________________________________________ Store more e-mails with MSN Hotmail Extra Storage – 4 plans to choose from! http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200362ave/direct/01/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2004 Report Share Posted February 22, 2004 MEDICARE FOR LOBBYISTS SOURCE: Palm Beach Post, February 12, 2004 http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/auto/epaper/editions/thursd ay/opinion_04a2db8a763221da00b4.html Rep. Tauzin delivered a $540 billion prescription-drug benefit for Medicare. Now, the Louisiana Republican is leaving Congress for a $2 million-a-year job in the drug industry. When it comes to exposing your principles, Rep. Tauzin makes Janet look coy. Rep. Tauzin, facing the end of his term as chairman of the House Science and Commerce Committee, pushed through passage of the Medicare bill in December and announced his resignation in February. He sets a standard that will be hard to top. He easily bested the mark of Scully, the White House Medicare chief who interviewed for his new drug-lobbyist position while still making Medicare policy. The elderly, torn by the AARP's support for the bill and its subsequent demand that one of the bill's main provisions be reversed, won't know for years whether the Medicare drug options will help them live longer. But for Rep. Tauzin, Mr. Scully and the drug industry, there's no question that the law is going to pay off in a big way. Stock prices in drug companies surged on passage of the bill. The securities firm Goldman Sachs estimated the bill would increase spending on prescription drugs by about $13 billion a year. The law specifically bans the government from using its buying power to negotiate lower drug costs, which could have locked the industry into lower prices not just for Medicare drugs but for drugs for all Americans. To make it even more difficult for the elderly to obtain affordable medicine, it continues the ban on buying cheaper drugs from Canada. Rep. Tauzin turned down a $1 million a year offer to head the Motion Picture Association of America, for which he worked to relax media ownership rules. Instead, he is expected to take a $2 million-a-year job -- $2.5 million by some accounts -- to work for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The group represents large drug manufacturers such as Eli Lilly and Merck. From PhRMA's point of view, who better to represent its interests when Congress considers revamping the law? The public's point of view is somewhat different. Rep. Tauzin looks like someone who should be investigated for delivering favors in exchange for a high-paying job. Washington's revolving door always leaves the public on the outside. _________________________________________________________________ Store more e-mails with MSN Hotmail Extra Storage – 4 plans to choose from! http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200362ave/direct/01/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2004 Report Share Posted February 22, 2004 MEDICARE FOR LOBBYISTS SOURCE: Palm Beach Post, February 12, 2004 http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/auto/epaper/editions/thursd ay/opinion_04a2db8a763221da00b4.html Rep. Tauzin delivered a $540 billion prescription-drug benefit for Medicare. Now, the Louisiana Republican is leaving Congress for a $2 million-a-year job in the drug industry. When it comes to exposing your principles, Rep. Tauzin makes Janet look coy. Rep. Tauzin, facing the end of his term as chairman of the House Science and Commerce Committee, pushed through passage of the Medicare bill in December and announced his resignation in February. He sets a standard that will be hard to top. He easily bested the mark of Scully, the White House Medicare chief who interviewed for his new drug-lobbyist position while still making Medicare policy. The elderly, torn by the AARP's support for the bill and its subsequent demand that one of the bill's main provisions be reversed, won't know for years whether the Medicare drug options will help them live longer. But for Rep. Tauzin, Mr. Scully and the drug industry, there's no question that the law is going to pay off in a big way. Stock prices in drug companies surged on passage of the bill. The securities firm Goldman Sachs estimated the bill would increase spending on prescription drugs by about $13 billion a year. The law specifically bans the government from using its buying power to negotiate lower drug costs, which could have locked the industry into lower prices not just for Medicare drugs but for drugs for all Americans. To make it even more difficult for the elderly to obtain affordable medicine, it continues the ban on buying cheaper drugs from Canada. Rep. Tauzin turned down a $1 million a year offer to head the Motion Picture Association of America, for which he worked to relax media ownership rules. Instead, he is expected to take a $2 million-a-year job -- $2.5 million by some accounts -- to work for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The group represents large drug manufacturers such as Eli Lilly and Merck. From PhRMA's point of view, who better to represent its interests when Congress considers revamping the law? The public's point of view is somewhat different. Rep. Tauzin looks like someone who should be investigated for delivering favors in exchange for a high-paying job. Washington's revolving door always leaves the public on the outside. _________________________________________________________________ Store more e-mails with MSN Hotmail Extra Storage – 4 plans to choose from! http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200362ave/direct/01/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2004 Report Share Posted February 22, 2004 MEDICARE FOR LOBBYISTS SOURCE: Palm Beach Post, February 12, 2004 http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/auto/epaper/editions/thursd ay/opinion_04a2db8a763221da00b4.html Rep. Tauzin delivered a $540 billion prescription-drug benefit for Medicare. Now, the Louisiana Republican is leaving Congress for a $2 million-a-year job in the drug industry. When it comes to exposing your principles, Rep. Tauzin makes Janet look coy. Rep. Tauzin, facing the end of his term as chairman of the House Science and Commerce Committee, pushed through passage of the Medicare bill in December and announced his resignation in February. He sets a standard that will be hard to top. He easily bested the mark of Scully, the White House Medicare chief who interviewed for his new drug-lobbyist position while still making Medicare policy. The elderly, torn by the AARP's support for the bill and its subsequent demand that one of the bill's main provisions be reversed, won't know for years whether the Medicare drug options will help them live longer. But for Rep. Tauzin, Mr. Scully and the drug industry, there's no question that the law is going to pay off in a big way. Stock prices in drug companies surged on passage of the bill. The securities firm Goldman Sachs estimated the bill would increase spending on prescription drugs by about $13 billion a year. The law specifically bans the government from using its buying power to negotiate lower drug costs, which could have locked the industry into lower prices not just for Medicare drugs but for drugs for all Americans. To make it even more difficult for the elderly to obtain affordable medicine, it continues the ban on buying cheaper drugs from Canada. Rep. Tauzin turned down a $1 million a year offer to head the Motion Picture Association of America, for which he worked to relax media ownership rules. Instead, he is expected to take a $2 million-a-year job -- $2.5 million by some accounts -- to work for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The group represents large drug manufacturers such as Eli Lilly and Merck. From PhRMA's point of view, who better to represent its interests when Congress considers revamping the law? The public's point of view is somewhat different. Rep. Tauzin looks like someone who should be investigated for delivering favors in exchange for a high-paying job. Washington's revolving door always leaves the public on the outside. _________________________________________________________________ Store more e-mails with MSN Hotmail Extra Storage – 4 plans to choose from! http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200362ave/direct/01/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.