GOP’s Big Pharma Protection to Cost NC Taxpayers “Hundreds of Millions”

RALEIGH, N.C., April 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ —
Attorney General Roy Cooper warned the House Special Select
Committee on Tort Reform today that a measure giving immunity to
pharmaceutical companies could cost North Carolina taxpayers what
one legislator described as “hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Still, the GOP-controlled committee, led by Rep. Johnathan
Rhyne, approved the controversial measure.  HB 542 could go to
the House floor for a vote next week.

The stunning exchange occurred when Rep. Jennifer Weiss floated
an amendment to remove the immunity measure for pharma companies
that sell harmful drugs.  A member of Attorney General
Cooper’s staff then stood and expressed the concerns of the NC
Department of Justice.  The AG’s office later put those
concerns — related to Medicaid and the State Health Plan as well
as consumer recovery — into writing:

“North Carolina taxpayers and consumers could lose millions
in legal settlements won because of illegal drug marketing and
other violations if House Bill 542 becomes law … North Carolina
could become only the second state in the country where
pharmaceutical manufacturers could be allowed to do or say anything
about a drug as long as it has basic FDA approval.”

Rep. Rhyne acknowledged talking to Attorney General Cooper, but
brushed off the concerns with what consumer advocates argued was a
dangerous misreading of a law in Michigan, the only state to have
passed the extreme legislation under consideration in North
Carolina.

“Republican leaders in the House are siding with corporate
interests over everyday taxpayers,” said Dick Taylor of the NC
Advocates for Justice.  “That Republicans would choose to cost
the state hundreds of millions of dollars to help pharmaceutical
companies during such hard economic times is beyond perplexing.
 

But even more disturbing is the fact that under this bill, North
Carolinians — like people in Mi

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