generic biologics, which would bring the costs of the drugs down. to do that, the president wanted to give brand biologics exclusive rights for seven years before cheaper generics could enter the market. but the pharmaceutical industry lobbied for more, 12 years, and prevailed. their argument development takes an average of 12 years and $1 billion plus. if we want people to invest in new cures for cancer and for diabetes and for aids and all of that, then you have to make sure that they re going to have some chance to get their return on their investment. reporter: and keeping them honest, brand name biologics had major reinforcements to make their case. last year pharmaceutical manufacturers spent more than $263 million in lobbying. do the math, that s more than $721,000 a day. and in 2008, they gave $30 million in campaign contributions, a record half of that to democrats. you know, the brand industry with their deep pockets have made some really great friends in the democrat
have some chance for a return on their investment. reporter: and keeping them honest, brand name biologics had major reinforcements to make their case. last year pharmaceutical manufacturers spent more than $263 million in lobbying, do the math, that s more than $721,000 a day. and in 2008 they gave $30 million in campaign contributions, a record half of that to democrats. you know, the brand industry with their deep pockets have made some great friends in the democratic party. to be sure, they did have powerful allies, not just the president, but aarp, unions and more, but brand name biologics outspend them and work the system. jim greenwood isn t just the president of bio. he s a former member of congress. you re a former member of the club. that helps. well, it helps in this way. it helps i know what people what they need and the
generic biologics, which would bring the costs of the drugs down. to do that, the president wanted to give brand biologics exclusive rights for seven years before cheaper generics could enter the market. but the pharmaceutical industry lobbied for more, 12 years, and prevailed. their argument development takes an average of 12 years and $1 billion plus. if we want people to invest in new cures for cancer and for diabetes and for aids and all of that, then you have to make sure that they re going to have some chance to get their return on their investment. reporter: and keeping them honest, brand name biologics had major reinforcements to make their case. last year pharmaceutical manufacturers spent more than $263 million in lobbying. do the math, that s more than $721,000 a day. and in 2008, they gave $30 million in campaign contributions, a record half of that to democrats. you know, the brand industry with their deep pockets have made some really great friends
back with busted. who can you trust when it comes to health care reform. i joke. political reporting that the democrats, surprise, surprise, bending on efforts to repeal the antitrust law that has been in place for a decade that allows insurers to write the rules and gounl the customers with sky-high premiums. the house democrats legalize it. so do the republicans by the way. but the dems apparently leaning towards scaling back the legislation they put in there to protect insurance companies that offer malpractice coverage to doctors. anyway, we re sure of the fact that the insurance industry lobbied congress to the tune of $263 million last year has nothing to do with any decision to scale back actual reform efforts that might actually prevent them from gouging americans in exchange for their lives.
officials and civil rights leaders. this is not a problem simply of ferguson, missouri. this is a problem that is national. it is a solvable problem. but it is one that, unfortunately, spikes after one event and then fades into the background until something else happens. what we need is a sustained conversation in which in each region of the country, people are talking about this honestly and then can move forward in a constructive fashion. the white house today taking a series of steps, creating a task force on 21st century policing. releasing a report on police militarization, and announcing a $263 million plan for body cameras and better training for police. this issue touches communities nationwide.