Several weeks ago, the President announced an agreement with the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) to achieve $80 billion in savings as part of health care "reform." The Congressional Budget Office has previously found that eliminating the Part D "doughnut hole"— one element of the PhRMA "deal"—would cause Medicare premiums to rise by 50 percent.
As a result of the White House agreement with the drug lobby, press reports indicate that a coalition of interest groups led by PhRMA has committed up to $150 million to generate publicity in support of the President’s health "reform."
On Saturday, Bloomberg News reported that one of the firms hired to spearhead the PhRMA-led advertising campaign is AKPD—the firm that Senior Advisor to the President David Axelrod founded, and where his son continues to work.
The same news story reported that Axelrod will be paid $2 million from AKPD as part of his severance package—payments which will come due beginning in December.
Does this sound familar? Remember when U.S. oil services giant Halliburton won a contract to restore Iraq's oil sector? Critics believe Vice President Dick Cheney steered the work to the company.
Is it possible that Alexrod's association with AKPD is similar to Cheney and Haliburton's?
Say it isn't so!!!!!
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Comments: 26
The memo, which according to a knowledgeable health care lobbyist was prepared by a person directly involved in the negotiations, lists exactly what the White House gave up, and what it got in return.
It says the White House agreed to oppose any congressional efforts to use the government's leverage to bargain for lower drug prices or import drugs from Canada -- and also agreed not to pursue Medicare rebates or shift some drugs from Medicare Part B to Medicare Part D, which would cost Big Pharma billions in reduced reimbursements.
In exchange, the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers Association (PhRMA) agreed to cut $80 billion in projected costs to taxpayers and senior citizens over ten years. Or, as the memo says: "Commitment of up to $80 billion, but not more than $80 billion."
So, I am not surprised at his actions irt a lot of things like this. However, I am surprised at his seeming wishy washyness on so many other things - the public option being only the most current, but includes his atttitude toward "big" pharma as well as lobbyists also.
From the beginning, the writing was on the wall.
Politicians will promise anything to get elected. We were suppose to watch that on C-SPAN if I remember the promises correctly, ha!
They ARE all the same.
Nope, can't be... because the liberal media will just brush it all under the rug and still give all praise and worship to the great Obamassiah.
Apparently if one side does it, there's hell to pay, but if the other does it, it must be a good thing.
I hope there are more and more eyes beginning to open. I really hope and pray there are.
I find much to be concerned about in your litany of less than desirable practices. I never expected Obama to be a real liberal and he has definitely not been at this point. He is trying to follow the practice, long held operable, of being as liberal as possible during the primary and reverting to the center to govern.
It is going to take much time to see how these things will actually play out. And I know that any president from either party will disappoint me on numerous subjects. But I'm not a one issue voter and expect disappointment to some extent.
Axelrod, by the way is Sr. Advisor to the President. He served as President-elect Obama's Chief Strategist during the presidential campaign, and led Obama's 2004 Senate campaign.
So you picked up on that did you? That has made an impression in me for years and party doesn't matter.