Pharma Firms fund TV ads for Weldon. Surprised?
Today's DelcoTimes article by Bill Bender (unfortunately not online) builds on some research done by AP (see Aug 29 AP piece) describing how Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA ) funneled money through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to run ads for Republican Congress members who backed the flawed Medicare D plan ( see earlier post for details) and (surprise surprise), Curt Weldon is one of those! About $300,000 has been spent on these ads.
From the AP article:
According to Bender, Medicare Part D "passed the House in 2003 by one vote - including Weldon's." Also:
Bender's research finds that pharma/health industry has backed Weldon with $62,150 in campaign contributions since 1989.
Pay-to-play? That's a small price to pay for the payback that pharma has gotten from Weldon's vote.
On this issue the Democrats had proposed using the full negotiating/purchasing power of the US Government to get better drug pricing from the pharma companies. This would have likely been resulted in great savings for seniors and all of us taxpayers who foot the bill for this prescription drug programs. Those taxpayer savings were turned into big pharm profits at our expense by Weldon's vote.
Weldon spokesman Michael Puppio (and our Delaware County Council member) had no explanation or information when asked by Bender to comment. We have no explanation on why Puppio is not doing his council job again today.
Finally, it seems that Weldon has been taking some of the new "fountain of youth" drugs that big pharma made using stem cells taken from Weldon's flip-flops. This customized medication seems to be working a little too well on Weldon...
From the AP article:
The pharmaceutical industry quietly footed the bill for at least part of a recent multimillion-dollar ad campaign praising lawmakers who support the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, according to political officials.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce claims credit for the ads, although a spokesman refused repeatedly to say whether it had received any funds from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
According to Bender, Medicare Part D "passed the House in 2003 by one vote - including Weldon's." Also:
Democrats have seized on the news, claiming it is a payback from drug companies to Republicans who supported the program, which has triggered billions in [pharmaceutical] industry profits.
"That's quite a thank you from the big pharmaceutical companies," said Ryan Rudominer, spokesman for Weldon's Democratic opponent, Joseph Sestak.
Bender's research finds that pharma/health industry has backed Weldon with $62,150 in campaign contributions since 1989.
Pay-to-play? That's a small price to pay for the payback that pharma has gotten from Weldon's vote.
On this issue the Democrats had proposed using the full negotiating/purchasing power of the US Government to get better drug pricing from the pharma companies. This would have likely been resulted in great savings for seniors and all of us taxpayers who foot the bill for this prescription drug programs. Those taxpayer savings were turned into big pharm profits at our expense by Weldon's vote.
Weldon spokesman Michael Puppio (and our Delaware County Council member) had no explanation or information when asked by Bender to comment. We have no explanation on why Puppio is not doing his council job again today.
Finally, it seems that Weldon has been taking some of the new "fountain of youth" drugs that big pharma made using stem cells taken from Weldon's flip-flops. This customized medication seems to be working a little too well on Weldon...
posted by Seventh Watch at 9:44 PM
11 Comments:
Big Pharm is a very large shareholder in Curt Weldon, Congressman, Inc.
is anyone really surprised. Big republican plans, big time republican support translates into big campaign dollars, all funded by teh doughnut hole.
By the way, he's an "independent fighter" for US--I just want to know who is the US?????
Also, did you notice that his signs don't identify him as republican???? The rats are jumping ship.
As I've stated previously, I think Weldon's signs have a typo and were meant to read:
Dependent Fighter for USSR
If it not a typo, then it may mean "Us" as in "Us rich, white Republicans scaring everyone about them"
Them as in: immigrants, the poor, people of color, gays, free thinkers, and bloggers :-)
"Weldon spokesman Michael Puppio (and our Delaware County Council member) had no explanation or information when asked by Bender to comment. We have no explanation on why Puppio is not doing his council job again today."
Um.. considering how he couldn't come up with an answer for Bender, it looks like he wasn't doing either of his conflicting jobs for which he is being paid.
Puppio is a living, breathing example of Peter's Principle: You rise to your level of incompetence.
The only thing keeping Puppio from advancing further in the GOP is people like Weldon, who has already risen to his own level.
do not disagree wiht you--how do you really feel about puppio?
great picture of curt. looks like a door to door salesman selling vacuums......
The only vacuuming around here is the clean-up of local politics.
I guess that's to be expected when the incumbant's voting record sucks.
What do they call the thing on a vacuum that collects everything?
... Oh, yeah, a dirt-bag.
What a coincidence!
How come liberals always preach about listening and talking about all points of view,but as soon as you disagree with them ,out come the insults.Dave ,you have enough on Weldon without resorting to schoolyard insults.
It's sort of like how conservatives used to talk about conscience and intellect. Now all they talk about is who Karl Rove can smear next.
'Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap..'
What I find insulting is that Weldon can claim to be looking out for the seniors, but sell out to the phamaceutical industry for higher drug prices.
The candidates should only be allowed to take donations from the district,then they would be obligated to us.
Candidates should be allowed to take donations only from people, and not from companies.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home