This video is simply amazing. There are so many things going on that it’s difficult to even take in the severity of Madia’s domination with just one watch. First of all, that Erik Paulsen would wish to deny the Government from negotiating bulk drug prices with the pharmaceutical companies is just unbelievable; the VA does it and saves millions, AARP advocates for it, almost all other countries do it, the CBO found that we’d save millions by negotiating, and even the GAO admits that negotiation would save money. Yet, not only did Paulsen vote against similar measures for the state while in the state legislature, but he still apparently opposes them for the Federal government today. Then you have this weird initial moment where he knows he’s in a corner due to his legislature vote, so he tries to stear clear of making a definitive statement only to have him pushed by Madia into this absurd rant about it not saving money. Then Madia completely knocks him down by throwing the correct figure back in his face. And then Paulsen seems to, right there on the stage, say fine, even though he voted against this for the state when it really mattered.
On display below is Madia’s mastery of this policy area, Paulsen’s ineptitude at covering up his far-right voting record, and an example of where Paulsen disagrees with both the public and reality on an important policy area. That’s a grand-slam folks.
Check it out:
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It is unbelievable that anyone would think that not being allowed to negotiate drug prices makes sense. It’s time for citizens, not lobbyists, to start calling the shots by voting for candidates who have their interests and pocketbooks in mind, not continuing to cater to special interests.
It’s an easy question: Do you want to pay whatever the drug company wants to ask for your prescription, or do you want to group together and have the government negotiate the costs like the VA does? Paulsen is so out of touch with what voters in our district are going through.
What I heard on the video was Paulsen say if it would save money, we should do it. Sounds like the CBO number was in dispute.
I would call it a good exchange. I guess I wouldn’t go so far as to call it an “evisceration.”
What I saw was Ashwin Madia showing a much better understanding of the issue. Erik cannot run away from his voting record, much as he would like to, and I like that Madia is holding him accountable for that record. It looked to me like Paulsen was willing to say anything that would make him attractive to voters.
Madia runs circles around Paulsen in these forums. Madia also wrote a very thoughtful piece on Social Security today. If the republicans had had their way in 2005, our Social Security Fund would have been in Wall Street’s hands today. I honestly cannot imagine telling my 85 year old parents that their Social Security Savings Account was 80% gone in the stock market when they woke up this morning.
There is no “staying the course” when it comes to health care, prescription drugs and social security for my parents.
http://blog.thehill.com/2008/09/17/the-collapse-we-escaped-minn-dem-candidate-ashwin-madia/
This is horrible news for Team Paulsen
DtM
Since you evidently heard less than fifteen seconds of the conversation, perhaps you should stay out of this one.
For anyone who is interested, here are links to 2 of the 4 citations in the YouTube video in question:
Paulsen’s vote against offering lower prescription drug prices for Minnesotans:
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cco/journals/2001-02/j0510051.htm
The relevant section starts in the middle of p. 4365.
Have the authority to administer a drug rebate program for drugs purchased according to the fair drug pricing program established under section 256.954. The commissioner shall require a rebate agreement from all manufacturers of covered drugs as defined in section 256B.0625, subdivision 13. For each drug, the amount of the rebate shall be equal to the basic rebate as defined for purposes of the federal rebate program in United States Code, title 42, section 1396r-8. The rebate program shall utilize the terms and conditions used for the federal rebate program established according to section 1927 of title XIX of the federal Social Security Act.
How the representatives voted is on p. 4367-4368.
65 yeas and 66 nays. Paulsen voted nay.
Amount of money Erik Paulsen accepted from Pharmaceuticals/Health Products: $13,850.
http://www.opensecrets.org/races/indus.php?cycle=2008&id=MN03
Oops! The video says “$14,000.” They are off by $150.
I have listened to the entire forum, lojasmo.
In all actuality, David Dillon had the best answers to the healthcare questions, far and away.
Madia has it right, Paulsen is out of touch and will say anything (except answer the question), and Dillon was basically agreeing with Madia…he must have figured after the first debate it was usless to try and attack Madia.
I’d say Madia was agreeing with Dillon. But that’s just me.