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[Rob <becidawa AT hctc.com>]

At 12/16/2004 06:25 AM, you wrote:

>>>By ROBERT PEAR
Published: December 16, 2004

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 - Representative Billy Tauzin, a principal author of 
the new Medicare drug law, will become president of the Pharmaceutical 
Research and Manufacturers of America, the chief lobby for brand-name drug 
companies, the trade group announced Wednesday.

Drug makers said that the job was not a reward for Mr. Tauzin's work on the 
Medicare bill, which followed the industry's specifications in many 
respects. The law was signed by President Bush on Dec. 8, 2003, a few weeks 
before a lawyer for Mr. Tauzin began talks with the drug trade group.

Mr. Tauzin (pronounced TOE-zan) and Mr. White refused to discuss Mr. 
Tauzin's new salary, except to say it was comparable to the pay at other 
large trade associations. People at other trade groups said they believed 
that Mr. Tauzin would receive $2 million a year or more.
The law forbids the government to negotiate with drug manufacturers to 
secure lower prices for Medicare beneficiaries.

The law steers clear of price controls and price regulation, which are 
anathema to drug companies. The law forbids the government to negotiate 
with drug manufacturers to secure lower prices for Medicare beneficiaries.<<<
`````````````````
No price controls and FORBIDDEN to try and get lower prices for bulk 
buys...  Then a $2m/yr job from the industry that profits from this.
This sure does have the "appearance of impropriety".


Rob
becidawa AT hctc.com

Merry Christmas everyone!