By Drew Armstrong - 2012-05-31T18:51:16Z <\/p>\n
Drugmakers led by Pfizer (PFE) Inc. agreed to run a very significant public campaign bankrolling political support for the 2010 health-care law, including TV ads, while the Obama administration promised to block provisions opposed by drugmakers, documents released by Republicans show. <\/p>\n
The internal memos and e-mails for the first time unveil the industry's plan to finance positive TV ads and supportive groups, along with providing $80 billion in discounts and taxes that were included in the law. The administration has previously denied the existence of a deal involving political support. <\/p>\n
The documents were released today by Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. They identify price controls under Medicare and drug importation as the key industry concerns, and show that former Pfizer Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Kindler and his top aides were involved in drawing it up and getting support from other company executives. <\/p>\n
As part of our agreement, PhRMA needs to undertake a very significant public campaign in order to support policies of mutual interest to the industry and the Administration, according to a July 14, 2009, memo from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. We have included a significant amount for advertising to express appreciation for lawmakers positions on health care reform issues. <\/p>\n
The goal, the memo said, was to create momentum for consensus health care reform, help it pass, and then acknowledge those senators and representatives who were instrumental in making it happen and who must remain vigilant during implementation. <\/p>\n
Republicans, including Representative Joe Pitts, of Pennsylvania, have been probing promises made during the March 2010 passage of the health law, with some arguing that political activity by the drugmakers in any agreement may cross an ethical line. <\/p>\n
After promising transparency, the White House turned around and cut a secret deal with pharmaceutical companies, Pitts said today in a statement. Todays revelation about the $80 billion deal shows an administration that cared more about victory than reform. <\/p>\n
White House spokesman Eric Schultz called the Republican probe a nakedly political taxpayer-funded crusade to hurt the presidents re-election campaign. <\/p>\n
The committee has wasted time on investigations but has done almost nothing to move legislation that would create jobs or grow the economy, Schultz said today in an e-mail. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Drugmakers Vowed to Campaign for Health Law, Memos Show<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Drew Armstrong - 2012-05-31T18:51:16Z Drugmakers led by Pfizer (PFE) Inc. agreed to run a very significant public campaign bankrolling political support for the 2010 health-care law, including TV ads, while the Obama administration promised to block provisions opposed by drugmakers, documents released by Republicans show. The internal memos and e-mails for the first time unveil the industry's plan to finance positive TV ads and supportive groups, along with providing $80 billion in discounts and taxes that were included in the law Continue reading