Proposition 61, a proposal to limit some drug prices in California to the price paid by the Veterans Administration, shapes up to be the most expensive initiative fight in California history due to the money the drug industry is spending against it.

With their virtually unlimited wealth, the drug industry has been able to deceive, scare or bribe a lot of people and groups who ought to know better into opposing the law. And they can saturate the media with ads. But in making your voting choice, I’d encourage you to read what the drug industry and those who serve them have to say about the law — when they think no one is listening.

Tom Norton is a pharma lobbyist. Here’s what he had to say about Proposition 61 in a publication for pharma executives:

“If the voters of California approve this proposition it would establish an incredibly deep, mandatory discount — in essence a ‘price control’ — for the public purchase of prescription drugs in America’s largest state. Such an action would no doubt cause an immediate demand for the same VA discount rate to be made available to other states, the federal government and likely private entities, as well. In short, adoption of VA pricing by the state of California would be a pricing disaster for the entire U.S. drug industry.”

And that — what scares the drug industry so much — is why the California Nurses Association is strongly urging a yes on Proposition 61.

— David Welch, Chico

Original Post: http://www.orovillemr.com/letter-if-drug-companies-dont-like-61-then-you-should