 Dear Friend, Overview (an 11-second scan): • Big Pharma spent $169M on federal lobbying last year Read my full story (a 1-minute 45-second read): Imagine you're seated at your dining room table — a giant heap of bills spread out before you. You struggle to find a way to buy groceries and the insulin you need to stay alive — but the numbers don't lie, and something's got to give. That's the choice some Minnesotans face every day, and perhaps you're one of them. The CDC tells us that a heartbreaking 17.9% of adults with diabetes under the age of 64 are faced with this impossible choice, and they're rationing their insulin — sometimes with deadly consequences. I firmly believe this is a choice no Minnesotan should ever be forced to make. Yet many are, and it's not hard to understand why. If you are with me on this, would you donate now? While real wages have stagnated, the price of insulin has skyrocketed — increasing nearly 600% in just the past 14 years. A $100 per month expense in 2005 is a $700 per month expense today. The root of the problem? The influence of one of the most powerful lobbies in Washington — Big Pharma. In 2018, the pharmaceutical industry advocated for industry-friendly legislation: • Spending $169M on federal lobbying That money, manpower, and influence buys a valuable seat at the table. And who was hired to help shape President Trump's drug pricing plan? Joseph Grogan, a former lobbyist for pharmaceutical giant and insulin manufacturer Gilead. Who lobbied former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price on behalf of Merck and Big Pharma's trade association? The secretary's former congressional staffers. Even with the very best of intentions, your elected leaders face great pressure and an immensely distorting influence that creates outcomes that aren't in your or our country's best interests. And while Big Pharma sits at the table where insulin pricing decisions are made, those whose lives depend on affordable insulin struggle to get in the door. That's why I joined Rep. Angie Craig in introducing the Emergency Access to Insulin Act this summer, and I'm proud to say there is bipartisan support for the bill. Of course, this legislation represents a threat to Big Pharma's money-making machine, and lobbyists are gearing up for a fight. But you can help do something about it, and it begins with using your voice. Your stories have power. Have you or a loved one been impacted by the rising cost of insulin? Share your story with our campaign office. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper. Help build the groundswell of support needed to fight for those whose lives depend on insulin.
I know we can make a difference for Minnesota families and families all across our country. Thank you, Dean |
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