Another Win For Big Pharma

And the hits just keep on coming:

The Senate rejected a plan Tuesday to allow Americans to import low-cost prescriptions from abroad, handing drug makers a victory that may help secure passage of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

The vote on the amendment by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., was 51-48 in favor, but 60 votes were needed to prevail under a special rule. Obama had supported the measure as a senator, but his administration echoed safety concerns raised by the pharmaceutical industry — which is supporting the Democrats' health care bill.

[SNIP]

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget office estimated that Dorgan's plan would have saved the federal government $19 billion over the coming decade. Dorgan says it would have saved American consumers four times that amount.

But don’t worry – the drug companies will still be allowed to import their needed items from places like China. Another case of a win for big pharma and a loss for you and me.

Democrats voting against the measure:

  • Akaka (D-HI)
  • Baucus (D-MT)
  • Bayh (D-IN)
  • Burris (D-IL)
  • Cantwell (D-WA)
  • Cardin (D-MD)
  • Carper (D-DE)
  • Casey (D-PA)
  • Dodd (D-CT)
  • Durbin (D-IL)
  • Gillibrand (D-NY)
  • Hagan (D-NC)
  • Hatch (R-UT)
  • Inouye (D-HI)
  • Kaufman (D-DE)
  • Kerry (D-MA)
  • Kirk (D-MA)
  • Landrieu (D-LA)
  • Lautenberg (D-NJ)
  • Levin (D-MI)
  • Lieberman (ID-CT)
  • Menendez (D-NJ)
  • Mikulski (D-MD)
  • Murray (D-WA)
  • Reed (D-RI)
  • Reid (D-NV)
  • Rockefeller (D-WV)
  • Schumer (D-NY)
  • Tester (D-MT)
  • Udall (D-CO)
  • Warner (D-VA)
  • Whitehouse (D-RI)


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