Henry Waxman is at it again. The man despises pharmaceutical companies. It’s anybody’s guess as to why that is, but it likely has to do with the fact that the man hates the very concept of a profit-motive - and the pharmaceutical industry makes for an easy target these days.
Speaking to the Pacific Palisades Democratic Club this past weekend, Waxman said “The President and the Senate made very poor deals with PhRMA.”
He also declared, “I have said that I am not bound by that agreement.” And this isn’t the first time he has said that.
What does Waxman plan on telling President Obama during the reconciliation process for the health bills?
“I’m going to say, ‘Are we interested in protecting the profits of the drug companies or protecting seniors?’”
Okay. Are those two things mutually exclusive?
PhRMA is a target. The Obama Administration and Congressional leaders may need the industry for now, but once they get what they want the game is over.
We need no further proof of that than Senator Kent Conrad’s response to the public outrage caused by the Nebraska Medicaid deal. Conrad noted that “no Congress can bind a future Congress.”
Assuming the Nebraska Medicaid deal survives the conference committee, you can expect it will be rescinded in the near future. Just as we can expect Henry Waxman to continue his assault on the pharmaceutical industry.
Lesson of the day? If you play nice with a dog that’s always been mean, you just may get bitten.
