FDA Bill To Rein In Drugmaker Cover-Ups

FDA TO STEP UP ENFORCEMENT—Health Care Advocate Paul Brown speaks on CNBC about the Congress’ decision to rein in drugmakers through a comprehensive FDA reform bill.

In July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a comprehensive FDA bill that includes prescription drug safety reforms.

“This is good news for patients and consumers,” said U.S. PIRG Consumer Health Care Advocate Paul Brown. “For 15 years the FDA has put the pharmaceutical industry first by speeding their drugs to the market. The House bill shifts the FDA’s priorities back to patients and consumers by focusing on their safety.”

The Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 is a response to consumer concerns that the FDA is too lax on prescription drug safety.

Over the last few years, the FDA has approved several drugs such as the pain reliever Vioxx and antidepressant Paxil that were later shown to cause dangerous side effects and deaths.

Most recently, the FDA has been chastised for withholding information about the diabetes drug Avandia that links it to increased risks of heart attacks.

U.S. PIRG will continue to put pressure on the FDA to rein in powerful drugmakers that have avoided regulations.

Court Opens Loophole In Campaign Finance Law

You probably read about the cluster of Supreme Court decisions issued this summer.

One decision that will have an impact on our work to get big money out of politics was the Court’s June decision in FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life.

The ruling reopened a loophole that allows corporations to sidestep campaign finance rules that were meant to curb corruption and level the playing field in campaigns.

The 2002 McCain-Feingold law closed that loophole by stating that advertising that mentions a candidate’s name just prior to an election is intended to sway a voter’s decision.

That type of advertising, commonly called issue advertising had to be paid for by funds raised under the same rules for contributions to candidates or other political committees.

The Court’s decision to overturn restrictions on issue advertising is unfortunate—for both its potential impact and timing, said U.S. PIRG Democracy Advocate Gary Kalman. “As congressional scandals continue to unfold and public confidence in elected officials remains at historic lows, it adds insult to injury to step back from the very laws created to counter corruption and special interest influence.”

Students Fight For Independent Media

In July, more than 2,300 students sent a petition to Congress urging them to repeal stringent copyright royalty rates that could force Internet radio stations out of business and reduce opportunities for diverse musicians to promote their music.

The student petition called on Congress to support the bipartisan “Internet Radio Equality Act” introduced by Reps. Jay Inslee (Wash.) and Don Manzullo (Ill.).

Their petitions, along with demonstrations nationwide and a day of action, prompted the Copyright Royalty Board (the entity reponsible for the rate hike) to delay implementation by two months.

“The Internet Radio Equality Act compensates rights holders but also encourages growth in Internet Radio and the greater media marketplace,” said U.S. PIRG Staff Attorney Amina Fazlullah, our expert on media and technology issues.