Proposition 61, the California Drug Price Relief Act, as the initiative was called, was a win-win. It would have saved the taxpayers of California about $i billion a year, and it would have lowered the price of prescription drugs for millions of people in the state who were on Medicaid.




As someone who has been a leader in Congress for decades in opposition to the greed of the drug companies, I was more than happy to support this grassroots effort. If we could pass an initiative to lower thug prices in California, our largest state, there was no question in my mind that this effort would spread all across the country. As part of my support for this initiative, I filmed an ad and published op-eds in the Los Angeles Times and other papers. I also went to several well-attended rallies around the state on October 17, encouraging voters in California to approve the initiative.




Here is what is so extraordinary and telling about the process surrounding the California initiative, and speaks to the corruption of the American political process. Despite the fact that California is regarded as one of the most liberal states in the country, not one statelvide Democratic leader was prepared to stand up and take on the drug companies. Further, there was almost no support from the large Democratic congressional delegation. There was also minimal support from the strong Democratic majority in the state legislature. Needless to say, there was absolutely no support for the initiative from Republicans. In other words, when it came to taking on the pharmaceutical industry, the political class virtually disappeared.




In order to defeat Proposition 6i, the prescription drug industry showed us what political power was all about. They also showed us the endless supply of money they have to protect their interests over the needs of the American people.

Unbelievably, in one state and on one ballot initiative, they spent S131 million to make sure Proposition 6i failed. Let me repeat that. The drug companies spent S131 million to defeat one ballot initiative that would have lowered drug prices in one state.

In the end, despite all of the money, the lies and the distortions the drug companies spread, and the refusal of political leaders to take a stand, Proposition 6i still received 46 percent of the vote on Election Day.





When I talk about a rigged economic system that benefits the rich, and a corrupt political system that benefits the powerful, the campaign to defeat Proposition 6i in California tells you everything you need to know.



at 3:49 PM