John McCain's and Barack Obama's positions on Prescription Drug Issues, per report by The Hill
09 09 08 - 11:49
Biotech industry not seeing much difference between McCain, Obama
By Jeffrey Young
John McCain’s and Barack Obama’s positions on prescription drug issues are virtually indistinguishable, according to a former Republican congressman and senior drug industry lobbyist.
Former Rep. Jim Greenwood (Pa.) is a centrist Republican who retired in 2004 after six terms in the House to take over the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). He said the group would not endorse Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.) or Sen. Obama (D-Ill.) and declined to state his personal preference.
“We will not make an endorsement and, frankly, it is because there are not such great differences between these candidates that it would make sense for us to make such an endorsement,” Greenwood told reporters last week.
“If you look at the presidential candidates, we conclude that they’ve both said some pretty good things about biotechnology,” Greenwood said. “Both candidates have also critical things to say about the drug industry in general, and they have supported a couple of policies we do not support,” he added.
The pharmaceutical industry, of which biotechnology companies are an important part, typically has aligned politically with the GOP. In addition, Greenwood and McCain were co-members of the centrist Republican Main Street Partnership during Greenwood’s years in Congress.
In 2008, however, the drug industry is finding little to separate the two candidates. In fact, much more of its money is going to Obama.
BIO, the trade organization that represents biotechnology companies, has never endorsed a presidential candidate, a spokeswoman said. BIO’s political action committee (PAC) has not made contributions to any presidential candidate in this campaign, nor during the 2004 race between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.).
Nevertheless, “It may well be that in another presidential year, the contrasts are so stark” that an endorsement would be necessary, Greenwood said. “[T]hat’s not the case in 2008.”
Asked for whom he planned to vote, the Republican ex-lawmaker declined to comment, saying, “I’m going to do that behind the curtain” in the voting booth. Greenwood did not attend the Republican National Convention this year, as he had in previous election years. He cited a scheduling conflict with a BIO board of directors meeting in Washington but also stated that his days in electoral politics are behind him.
The drug industry is troubled by both candidates, especially their votes to permit cheaper medicines to be imported into the United States and to allow the government to negotiate with manufacturers on the price of drugs for Medicare recipients.
McCain and Obama have used harsh rhetoric against the drug industry and its influence in Washington.
During his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul last week, McCain cited his disagreements with the pharmaceutical industry as an example of his political independence. “I’ve fought tobacco companies and trial lawyers, drug companies and union bosses,” McCain said. Obama routinely says he would “stand up to” Big Pharma in the White House.
As a growing source of innovation at the cutting edge of medical technology, the biotechnology sector generally enjoys a better reputation in political circles than does the traditional pharmaceutical sector.
Likewise, BIO itself does not carry the same weighty political baggage as the industry’s largest trade group, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which is strongly associated with the GOP and is a frequent target of Democratic attacks.
During the current election cycle, neither BIO nor PhRMA has given money to a presidential candidate and their respective PACs’ contributions to lawmakers slightly favor Democrats.
PhRMA’s president and CEO, former Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.), contributed $1,000 to McCain’s presidential campaign last year, however.
Overall, drug company employees have given substantially more to Obama than McCain.
Obama has raised $915,696 from these contributors, more than twice McCain’s $442,042 haul, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Even former Democratic candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) bested McCain in this sector, with $641,129. By contrast, President Bush outraised Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) $1.4 million to $861,413 in 2004.
“I think that it’s probably a demonstration that our industry is not monolithic and I hope that it demonstrates to some extent an opportunity to get beyond addressing these issues in a very partisan way,” said Greenwood, who also observed that Obama has simply raised more money than McCain overall.
Apart from their shared positions opposed to the drug industry’s interests, McCain and Obama are in sync with the drug industry in several important areas. Greenwood cited the candidates’ shared support for increased funding for the Food and Drug Administration, tax credits for research and development and federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
Greenwood acknowledged speculation that McCain may have softened his commitment to embryonic stem cell research during the campaign and indicated that any shift would represent a clear reversal from his voting record on the issue in the Senate.
“I’ve read some of the accounts that describe Sen. McCain, shall I say, further clarifying his views on stem cells,” Greenwood said. “I would be very surprised it Sen. McCain would veto [legislation],” he said.
“[A]t the end of the day, a bill will be on his desk and I believe it would be highly inconsistent for the senator to veto it” if elected president, Greenwood said.
Greenwood has repeated over the last several years that Bush’s seven-year-old restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research would be lifted by whoever assumes the presidency in 2009. The legislation has passed Congress several times, only to be vetoed by Bush.
The political strategy will depend on whether McCain or Obama is victorious in November, however, Greenwood said. Congressional Democratic leaders would likely move first if McCain wins, thereby forcing him to take a stand, but probably would allow Obama to take the lead if he is president, he predicted.
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