Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R-Minn) and Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), the dumb and dumber of Congressional voices calling for drug importation, demanded an explanation on Wednesday for increased government seizures of drugs mailed to U.S. customers by Canadian pharmacies.
They don’t want an explanation — because they know the answer — uninspected, unregulated foreign drugs are unsafe and illegal. This is a recording.
“We believe this unannounced policy of increased enforcement is irresponsible,” the two said in a letter to the Food and Drug Administration and to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“There is a growing chorus of outraged Americans concerned that access to affordable prescription drugs is being denied to them,” reads the letter.
It is a chorus of two backed up by a supportive media echo chamber. But the music is out of tune and increasingly out of touch.
Here’s what these two elected representatives of the people are complaining about — recently the FDA launched an investigation confiscating thousands of drug shipments headed for the U.S. Some of them were headed for Minnesotans who ordered them over the state’s Web site. When opened, nearly half claimed to be of Canadian origin but, according to FDA investigators, 85 percent of them were from 27 other countries such as China, Iran, and Ecuador. And 30 of the drugs were counterfeit.
Why did FDA do what they did? Because it’s their job and it’s the right thing to do.
This is a recording. If you are looking for media attention, please leave your name and congressional district at the sound of the beep.
