DEBATE: Housley Stands With Big Pharma, Not Minnesotans

Sen. Smith is taking on Big Pharma and getting things done for families affected by the opioid crisis

Karin Housley has repeatedly stood with Big Pharma over Minnesotans, whether it’s supporting tax cuts for big drug companies or voting to line the pockets of opioid manufacturers. Housley supported the Republican tax law that gave a trillion-dollar tax cut to big corporations, including prescription drug companies. And she was one of only six people to vote against overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation (60-6) to hold opioid manufacturers accountable and require them to help pay for treatment programs. During debate on the floor, GOP lawmakers urged their colleagues to “have a spine” and vote for the bill, and said the pharmaceutical companies had “lied to the public.” Housley remained unmoved.

In contrast, the first thing Sen. Smith did when she got to the Senate was take on Big Pharma. Her first bill helps to lower the cost of prescription medicines by closing a corporate loophole that giant drug companies use to game the system and keep affordable generic drugs off the market. She also introduced the Affordable Medications Act, which would make prescription drugs more affordable, penalize drug companies for hiking up drug prices, invest in research for better medications, and prevent companies from gaming the system to block competition and keep drug prices high.

And just last week, major bipartisan opioids legislation that Sen. Smith helped write—which will provide $1.5 billion in funding for states, tribes and communities to bolster their prevention, treatment and recovery efforts—was signed into law by the President.

FACT: HOUSLEY HAS REPEATEDLY STOOD WITH BIG PHARMA OVER MINNESOTANS

Housley Voted Against Imposing A Fee On Pharmaceutical Companies “To Fund Prevention And Treatment Programs And County Social Services To Address The Opioid Addiction Epidemic.” “The Minnesota Senate passed a bill Thursday that imposes $20 million in annual fees on pharmaceutical companies to fund prevention and treatment programs and county social services to address the opioid addiction epidemic.”  The bill passed 60-6. [SF730, SJ8829, 5/10/18; MPR, 5/10/18]

Star Tribune Headline: Tsunami Of Lobbying Greets Bipartisan Effort At Minnesota Capitol To Tax Opioids [Star Tribune,5/05/18]

Housley Said She Was For Repeal And Replace. “Housley: Saying she was for repeal and replace, which didn’t happen due to the slim Republican margin in the Senate — ‘Which is another reason I’m running.’” [Rochester Post Bulletin, 7/10/18]

Bill Cut Taxes Imposed On Drug Makers And Health Insurers. “Repeal the taxes on health insurers, prescription drug makers and medical devices. The bill seeks to lift the annual tax Obamacare imposed on drug makers and health insurers and It would also get rid of the 2.3% excise tax on the sale of certain medical devices that was put in place. The taxes would disappear in either 2017 or 2018, depending on the levy.” [CNN, 7/14/17]

Housley “Cheered The Tax Cut Bill[.]” “When it comes to policy, Housley is running more or less as a standard-issue Republican: She favors repealing the Affordable Care Act, has cheered the tax cut bill that was signed into law last year, and opposes abortion rights.” [Minnpost, 9/06/18]

Bloomberg: “U.S. Drugmakers Will Be One Of The Biggest Beneficiaries Of The Repatriation Portion Of The Bill.” “U.S. drugmakers will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the repatriation portion of the bill. They’ve been sitting on billions of dollars in overseas earnings and can now bring home that cash at a reduced rate. While the tax bill has been promoted by Republicans as a job creator, the reality is that drug companies are more likely to return the money to shareholders, or use it to make acquisitions.”  [Bloomberg, 12/15/17]

Fortune: Pfizer Is The Latest Drug Maker To Reap Billions From Trump’s Tax Cuts [Fortune, 1/30/18]

FACT: TINA SMITH IS TAKING ON BIG PHARMA AND GETTING THINGS DONE FOR MINNESOTA FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE OPIOID CRISIS

KMSP Headline: Sen. Smith Taking On ‘Big Pharma’ [Fox9, 7/08/18]

“Smith Has Taken Aim At ‘Big Pharma’” With a Bill Which “Aims To Increase Access To More Affordable, Generic Drugs[.]”  “Smith has taken aim at ‘Big Pharma’ since being sworn in as a senator. She’s introduced two bills this year: one aims to increase access to more affordable, generic drugs, while the other would require the pharmaceutical companies to explain why drug prices are what they are.” [Fox9, 7/08/18]

WCCO Headline: Sen. Tina Smith Pushing Bill To Lower Prescription Drug Prices  [WCCO, 3/25/18]

Smith Introduced The “Affordable Medications Act” Aiming To Lower The Cost Of Prescription Drugs.  “Senator Tina Smith has introduced a bill aiming to lower the cost of prescription drugs, while making the marketplace more competitive to the benefit of the consumer.  It’s called the ‘Affordable Medications Act,’ and was introduced earlier this week.” [KBJR, 9/07/18]

Smith Wrote Part Of The Opioid Bill.  “The U.S. Senate this week passed new opioid legislation written in part by Senator Tina Smith. ‘It will support more medication assisted treatment and it gets targeted resources to states and tribes to expand treatment and recovery,’ said Sen. Smith. ‘All of these things will help stem the tide of this terrible epidemic which is killing thousands of Minnesotans and Americans every year.’” [Fox9, 9/18/18]

President Trump Signed The Opioid Bill, “A Rare Piece Of Legislation That Garnered Bipartisan Support. “President Trump signed a sweeping opioids bill into law Wednesday, a rare piece of legislation that garnered bipartisan support. The bill addresses numerous aspects of the opioid crisis, including prevention, treatment and recovery.” [10/24/18]