1 Boring Old Man

The issue here has to do with the newer biological treatment modalities and their fate under health care reform. Jane Hamsher of FDL, a breast cancer survivor, wrote a piece about how the profits of the companies producing these drugs had been protected by Congresswoman Anna Eschoo [October 29th]. Eschoo responded the next day. [October 30th]. Jane countered on [November 2]. But that’s not the story. The story begins with the article in the New York Times about Genentech [a company making these drugs] writing the responses for any number of Congressmen [42 to be exact], which then made it to the Congressional Record. The "blurbs" were written by former Eshoo staffers now doing PR/Lobbying for Genentech. I know there are a lot of articles here, but it’s a nice piece of detective work, and an outrageous bit of behind the scenes manipulation of our Congress. It’s worth the read. I’ve listed just a couple [of many] of emptywheel’s compilations of the quotes from just a few of our congressmen. Think they were using a script?

1. Oct 29: FDL: Health Care Bill: A Death Sentence For My Fellow Breast Cancer Survivors
2. Oct 30: Huff Post: Setting the Record Straight on Our Health Care Legislation
3. Nov 2:  FDL: The Devil in Anna Eshoo’s Details
4. Nov 15: NYT: In House, Many Spoke With One Voice: Lobbyists’
5. Nov 15: emptywheel: Industry Needs 42 Representatives to … Refute Jane Hamsher
6. Nov 15: Little Sis: Former Eshoo, Barton staffers at center of Genentech scandal
7. Nov 15: emptywheel: Oh, That’s Where Eshoo and Barton Were in the NYT Story!
8. Nov 15: emptywheel: What a Roomful of Republican Biotech-Paid Whores Looks Like
9. Nov 15: emptywheel: Also in that Room: Democratic Biotech-Paid Whores

What a Roomful of Republican Biotech-Paid Whores Looks Like
By: emptywheel
November 15, 2009

“A homegrown success story!!!”

• Joe Wilson: One of the reasons I have long supported the U.S. biotechnology industry is that it is a homegrown success story that has been an engine of job creation in this country.
• Kay Granger: One of the reasons I have long supported the U.S. biotechnology industry is that it is a homegrown success story that has been an engine of job creation in this country.
• Lee Terry: One of the reasons I have long supported the U.S. biotechnology industry is that it is a homegrown success story that has been an engine of job creation in this country.
• Ted Poe: One of the reasons I have long supported the U.S. biotechnology industry is that it is a homegrown success story that has been an engine of job creation in this country.
• Blaine Luetkemeyer: One of the reasons I have long supported the U.S. biotechnology industry is that it is a homegrown success story that has been an engine of job creation in this country.
• Lynn Jenkins: One of the reasons I have long supported the U.S. biotechnology industry is that it is a homegrown success story that has been an engine of job creation in this country.
• Heath Shuler: One of the reasons I have long supported the U.S. biotechnology industry is that it is a homegrown success story that has been an engine of job creation in this country and in my home state of North Carolina.

Also in that Room: Democratic Biotech-Paid Whores
By: emptywheel
November 15, 2009

“Another significant benefit: jobs jobs jobs!”

• Bob Filner: I wanted to draw attention to another significant benefit of this legislation: the creation of new high-paying jobs in this country. Let me repeat that for some of my friends on the other side of the aisle, this bill will create high-paying, high-quality jobs in healthcare delivery, technology and research in the United States.
• Yvette Clarke: Another significant benefit of this legislation, which has not received as much attention, will be the creation of new high paying jobs, high quality jobs in healthcare delivery, technology and research in the United States.
• Donald Payne: Another significant benefit of this legislation which has not received as much attention will be the creation of new high-paying jobs in this country. Let me repeat that for some of my friends on the other side of the aisle, this bill will create high-paying, high-quality jobs in healthcare delivery, technology and research in the United States.
• Bill Pascrell: Another significant benefit of this legislation which has not received as much attention will be the creation of new high-paying jobs in this country. Let me repeat that for some of my friends on the other side of the aisle: this bill will create high-paying, high-quality jobs in health care delivery, technology, and research in the United States.
• Phil Hare: With unemployment at its highest level since 1983, another significant benefit of this legislation that should be highlighted is the creation of new high-paying jobs in this country. Let me repeat that for some of my friends on the other side of the aisle, this bill will create high-paying, high-quality jobs in healthcare delivery, technology and research in the United States.
• Linda Sanchez: But another significant benefit of this legislation which has not received much attention is its promotion of high-paying research, high tech, and manufacturing jobs. Contrary to the claims that this is a “job killing bill,” in fact, this bill will create thousands of jobs here in the United States.
• Robert Brady: Another significant benefit of this legislation which has not received as much attention will be the creation of new high-paying jobs in this country. Let me repeat that for some of my friends on the other side of the aisle, this bill will create high-paying, high-quality jobs in healthcare delivery, technology, and research in the United States.