[Ip-health] Newsday editorial on Tauzin's new job at PhRMA

[Mike Palmedo]

http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-vppha034102810jan03,0,7853888.story?coll=ny-editorials-headlines

TAUZIN CHANGES SIDES

Switch raises issues of loyalty

Newsday Editorial
January 3, 2005

Now that Billy Tauzin is working directly for the mighty pharmaceutical
industry, instead of doing its bidding while occupying a potent seat in
Congress, he should push the industry to come up with a drug that cures
the revolving-door syndrome. Call it Revolvex, but don't expect to see
it soon.

Former members of Congress often end up working for industries that they
used to "oversee," but Tauzin's case is particularly egregious. Until
recently, the Louisiana Republican chaired the House Energy and Commerce
Committee, which played a major role in writing the Medicare drug
benefit bill that has drawn so much criticism from the very senior
citizens who are supposed to benefit from it. Among other Big
Pharma-friendly provisions, it forbids the federal government to use its
huge purchasing power as leverage to reduce the exorbitant price of drugs.

Today Tauzin becomes president of the primary industry group,
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. He's not allowed
to lobby his former congressional colleagues for a year, but he has
underlings for that task.

Tauzin will have plenty to keep him busy, such as getting Big Pharma
back to the position it occupied until last year, the most profitable
industry in America, and battling critics who doubt many of its
fundamental claims. As a drug to counter his spin, try Dr. Marcia
Angell's book, "The Truth About the Drug Companies." It raises sharp
questions about those (now including Tauzin) who price the pills we pop.