Senator Leahy Supports Bringing Drugs In From Canada... And Also Banning Such Sites From The Internet
from the confused-isn't-he? dept
In the latest bit of evidence that Senator Patrick Leahy, who is the official sponsor of the PROTECT IP Act, doesn't even understand what it is he's proposing, the folks over at DemandProgress are pointing out a massive contradiction in two separate bills that Leahy has introduced. First, of course, we have the PROTECT IP Act, which pharmacies like Eli Lilly are cheering on because they know that it can be used to block access to foreign online pharmacies (mainly in Canada) that Americans frequently use for parallel import or re-importation of drugs at more reasonable prices. Of course, Eli Lilly won't come out and say that directly, but the fact that they hype up the key point that this bill will encourage search engines and others to take "voluntary action" makes it pretty clear that this is what they likely mean.No one denies that actual fake drugs are a real danger. But too many in both the pharma industry and among our politicians never separate out fake (and often dangerous) drugs from either generics or parallel import drugs that are just as effective, but often much, much cheaper. While government officials will insist up and down that their only concern is with the actual fake drugs, what's noticeably missing from this bit of legislation is anything that makes that point clear -- meaning that search engines and others who don't necessarily understand the difference may feel pressured to block those legit online pharmacies. Which, of course, would make the big pharma firms like Eli Lilly quite happy.
So what's the contradiction? Well, at the same time that Leahy is sponsoring the PROTECT IP Act, he's also a co-sponsor of the Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act which is designed to expand the ability of Americans to import cheaper drugs from elsewhere. Yup, so just as he's sponsoring a bill to allow more people to get cheaper drugs from Canada, he's also sponsoring a bill that will make that much, much harder.
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Filed Under: canada, drugs, parallel import, patrick leahy, protect ip, reimportation
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It's not voluntary if it wouldn't have happened if it weren't for a law. It's government induced action.
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realpolitik
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Re: realpolitik
Safe to say that they write the law, he endorses it at this stage.
Leahy is one of the main reasons I truly believe in term limits for Senators and Congress.
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Re: Re: realpolitik
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Re: Re: Re: realpolitik
Best thing: Recall votes. Amend ALL state Constitutions and the federal constitution to make it so that Congressmen/Senators/Reps can be recalled at any time, at the local/state/federal level.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: realpolitik
Recall votes, 2 term limit (similar to President) and an amended pay of $50,000 from the $176,000 salary of most Congressmen.
This would:
A) stop the incentive to make bad laws based on lobbyist ideals
B) prevent groupthink by making Senators more resistant to lobbyist ideas (they have more time to speak to their constituents and will be less likely to waste it on lobbyists)
C) slow down the revolving door (too many people can't gain power and influence in one industry)
D) A Con - growth of more family politics (it's almost inevitable but look at the Kennedies and Bush families for examples)
E) Prevent the government healthcare that most Senators (Leahy) enjoy through the government system.
F) Force more Congressmen to get jobs in the private sector and see what it's like to be a person in the system.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: realpolitik
Thats actually pretty good.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: realpolitik
I agree with the salary thing. They shouldn't get a pension either. It was designed as a part time job. Let's get back to that.
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Re: realpolitik
at this stage of his career, he's cashing out from any lobbyist who comes through the door.
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Re: Re: realpolitik
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Possibility
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Re: Possibility
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Congress..
It's the same problem with Health Care; the Health Insurers have a vested interest in keeping health care costs high and rising, so they "persuade" Congress to help them. They even blocked legislation that would require health insurers to use 80% of the premiums to actually pay for health care, a motion that would endanger the multi-million dollar bonuses paid to their executives. Health Insurers are a business, and making enormous amounts of money is the goal, NOT taking care of sick people.
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Re: Congress..
5% profit is MORE THAN ENOUGH profit for a company to be making in the real world.
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Frankly, re the imported drug legislation, it is nice to see that it reinforces the LG v. Quanta decision regarding the "first sale" doctrine (See: Page 93 of the draft bill).
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Name list anyone?
Oh wait, there's no incentive for them to do that...
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World Wide Web
Feeling more and more like I'm in China these days.
Cripes. D.C. needs one hell of a house cleaning. When is Leahy up for re-election? robin, maybe you could consider getting involved and working to oust him from office if you aren't already.
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Eli Lilly knows exactly how much drugs are available in Canada, they know about how much drugs will be needed by the local population and all they have to do is restrict supplies to say 10% over what Canada needs. At that point, then there won't be the supplies in Canada to ship to the US.
Why are people here and politicians banking on strategies to lower costs on something that can be defeated by a business decision?
Oh, and by the way, Pfizer and Eli Lilly already restrict the Canadian supplies. You are arguing over a dead issue.
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Safe Imported Drugs are a Reality
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PROTECT IP will harm public health
The PROTECT IP Act contains specific language that targets all non-U.S. based online pharmacies�classifying them as a risk to public health.
Over a million Americans currently import their drugs from Canadian and other international pharmacies. The do it because they can�t afford the price of drugs at home.
Big pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly would be thrilled if such legislation passed. That would mean that they could keep charging unreasonable prices for their drugs. And raking in the profits.
But what about the many Americans that rely on this virtual lifeline? The implications for them are grave�far worse than for the people who can no longer download pirated movies. This bill presents a serious public health risk. Find out more at www.RxRights.org
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The right to buy Meds from Canada from reputable pharmacies
its my legal right to buy in cnada from reputable corp. like get canadian drugs.com
for over 6 yrs with only positive results a remarks.
the gov.cannot deny my rights to buy from whom ever i chose.
Jose H. Belaval
Cutler Bay, fl. 33157
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I thought this was America - Home of the FREE
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