commments on Thimerosal last year

March 9, 2008

Friday, June 08, 2007

PhRMA Sent SiCKO

Spy to Cannes

According to a recent report in Bussinessweek magazine, " The pharmaceutical industry

received reports from Cannes, according to Ken , senior vice-president of the

Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), who says a friend called him

from France after seeing the flick. " (see

"

Wants to Reform Health Care " ).

responded with this challenge to Tauzin, CEO of PhRMA. I received this by email from The Weinstein Company,

which produced the movie:

BusinessWeek today

reported that the drug industry had a " friend " reporting back to them

from the screening of 'SiCKO' at Cannes.

Tauzin, the chief lobbyist for the drug industry, doesn't need to hide

behind a " friend " if he wants to see the movie. I invite Mr. Tauzin

to join me in New

Hampshire later

this month for a screening of 'SiCKO' followed by a

town hall discussion with a group of undecided New Hampshire voters. Polls have indicated that health care is one of the top

issues for voters and as New

Hampshire is

the nation's first primary state, the screening and town hall discussion will

give everyone the chance to discuss how they feel about our health care system

-- and specifically the drug industry. I am guessing, given that Mr. Tauzin has

launched a glitzy paid advertising campaign featuring children, that he will be

more than happy to face the public directly.

WE CAN CERTAINLY

DISCUSS ISSUES LIKE ELI LILLY'S THIMEROSAL AND WHAT IT DID TO AMERICA'S

CHILDREN or the fact that New Hampshire seniors often have to cross the Canadian border to get affordable

drugs.

When Tauzin was still in Congress and carrying the drug industry's dirty water

-- before getting his current multi-million dollar a year contract as the

nation's top drug lobbyist -- he was the symbol of the death-grip that the

health care industry has over health care reform. In fact, Tauzin has a

starring role in 'SiCKO' and I am sure the spy

reported back on the film's treatment of Mr. Tauzin. The town hall forum will

certainly offer the public a chance to explore Tauzin's record and the drug

industry's role in our health care system.

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