Whatever the outcome on Tuesday, this election has made one thing clear yet again: Voters care deeply about taking on drug corporations and bringing down the price of prescription drugs.
This cycle, in an unprecedented way, candidates, political parties, and independent expenditure campaigns spent time and money talking about rising prescription drug prices and promising to fix the broken system. Candidates on both sides of the aisle made promises to bring down drug prices — with good reason. Lowering drug prices is a winner in polling, among voters at the kitchen table, and for the economy.
Take a look for yourself.
POLLING demonstrates the power of lowering drug prices.
- Nearly 9 out of 10 voters say lowering prescription drug prices is a top health care issue deciding their 2020 vote. [Kaiser Family Foundation, October 2020]
- “About one-third (35%) of Americans say that lowering the cost of prescription drugs is either the single most important issue (5%) or among the most important issues (30%) that will influence their vote in 2020.” [Gallup, September 2020]
CANDIDATES put their time and money behind ads and talking points promising to lower drug prices.
- “President Trump lowered drug costs.” [Donald J. Trump For President TV ad, October 2020]
- “Joe Biden will make health care affordable. His plan gives a tax credit to help working families pay insurance premiums, lowers prescription costs by 60 percent.” [Biden for President TV ad, October 2020]
- “I took on big drug companies to reduce prices.” [Governor Steve Bullock TV ad, August 2020]
- “On prescription drugs, Susan wrote the law that lets pharmacists recommend less expensive payment alternatives.” [Senator Susan Collins TV ad, September 2020]
- “I’m taking on Big Pharma to lower prescription drug prices.” [Senator Steve Daines TV ad, September 2020]
- “In the Senate, I’ll work for you, not the drug companies.” [Sara Gideon TV ad, June 2020]
- “I’ll use the purchasing power of Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug costs.” [Theresa Greenfield TV ad, July 2020]
- “We’ve got to help families who are getting crushed by prescription drug costs.” [Governor John Hickenlooper TV ad, August 2020]
- “I’ll push for Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices and make cheaper generic drugs more available.” [Mark Kelly TV ad, March 2020]
- “We need to bring down the cost of prescription drugs.” [Senator Martha McSally TV ad, February 2020]
- “Drug companies bought off Congress, and they made it illegal for Medicare to negotiate lower prices.” [Jon Ossoff TV ad, September 2020]
- “I have a plan that will finally get rid of surprise billings and bring drug costs down.” [Senator David Perdue TV ad, July 2020]
- “I’m fighting to lower the cost of prescription drugs.” [Senator Gary Peters TV ad, September 2020]
- “I have been working to lower prescription drug prices since my first day in the Senate.” [Senator Tina Smith TV ad, August 2020]
- “My legislation cracks down on runaway drug prices and finally lets the government negotiate for lower prices.” [Senator Mark Warner TV ad,September 2020]
LAWMAKERS pay a political price for betting on Big Pharma. Outside entities believe ties to drug corporations are toxic and spent millions this cycle defining candidates as in the pocket of Big Pharma.
- “If you’re a drug company, you’ve done well under Donald Trump…Meanwhile, prescription drugs cost as much as nine times more.” [Priorities USA TV ad, October 2020]
- “Senator Thom Tillis voted to let drug companies raise prices on hundreds of medicines, and while they were jacking up prices on you.” [Senate Majority PAC TV ad, August 2020]
- “Daines voted to give big drug companies tens of billions in tax breaks.” [Duty and Honor TV ad, August 2020]
- “David Perdue voted against cracking down on the drug companies’ price gouging and ripping us off.” [Majority Forward TV ad, July 2020]
- “Next time you fill a prescription, remember this. Minnesota’s U.S. Congressman Jim Hagedorn says he will vote against lowering the cost of prescription drugs.” [DCCC TV ad, October 2020]
- “Back in Washington, Davis is all smiles for big drug companies, because they’ve given him over two hundred grand while Davis gave them a $40 billion tax cut.” [House Majority PAC TV ad, September 2020]
- “While we’re waiting for Ann Wagner to answer our calls, she’s busy calling the corporate drug and insurance industries who’ve given her more than $1.3 million in campaign cash. And, she voted with them to keep prescription prices high.” [DCCC TV ad, August 2020]
- “Tillis took thousands from drug companies and voted to let them raise prices on hundreds of drugs.” [End Citizens United TV ad, September 2020]
VOTERS want to hear about plans to lower drug prices.
- “It’s going to be my first time voting this year. Prices of drugs have a huge effect on my vote.” [Sophie Andro, Grand Rapids, MI, October 2020]
- “I’m voting for candidates who will stand up to Big Pharma and lower the prices of prescription drugs.” [Jacquie Persson, Waterloo, IA, September 2020]
- “When I’m voting up and down the ballot, candidates that are gonna fight high drug prices are everything to me.” [Travis Paulson, Eveleth, MN, September 2020]
- “When I’m thinking about whoever I’m going to vote for, drug pricing is very important.” [Patricia McKenzie, Lithonia, GA, September 2020]