2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumBernie Sanders is the ranking minority member of the Senate
Health Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, Elizabeth Warren is also a member of that committee.
The committee's jurisdiction also includes
Jurisdiction[edit]
The Subcommittee has oversight over many aging issues including: The Older Americans Act - including home delivered and congregate meals programs for older adults, the Senior Community Services Employment Program, long-term services and supports, elder abuse, neglect, and scams affecting seniors, and the health of the aging population, including Alzheimer's disease and family caregiving. The Subcommittee also has oversight over many Primary Health issues including Community Health Centers, access to vaccines, oral health, prescription drugs and the mental health of all Americans.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Health_Subcommittee_on_Primary_Health_and_Retirement_Security
Bernie Sanders is also one of five minority Senators that sit on the United States Senate Health Subcommittee on Children and Families
Its' jurisdiction includes
Jurisdiction[edit]
The Subcommittee's jurisdiction includes Head Start, the Family Medical Leave Act, child care and child support, and other issues involving children, youth, and families.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Health_Subcommittee_on_Children_and_Families
Hillary Clinton at this time is not in government, she might be the Democratic nominee and she might not, if she is nominated Hillary might be elected to the Presidency and she might not.
On Sunday this happened,
Drug Goes From $13.50 a Tablet to $750, Overnight
Specialists in infectious disease are protesting a gigantic overnight increase in the price of a 62-year-old drug that is the standard of care for treating a life-threatening parasitic infection.
The drug, called Daraprim, was acquired in August by Turing Pharmaceuticals, a start-up run by a former hedge fund manager. Turing immediately raised the price to $750 a tablet from $13.50, bringing the annual cost of treatment for some patients to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
(snip)
Turings price increase is not an isolated example. While most of the attention on pharmaceutical prices has been on new drugs for diseases like cancer, hepatitis C and high cholesterol, there is also growing concern about huge price increases on older drugs, some of them generic, that have long been mainstays of treatment.
(snip)
In August, two members of Congress investigating generic drug price increases wrote to Valeant Pharmaceuticals after that company acquired two heart drugs, Isuprel and Nitropress, from Marathon Pharmaceuticals and promptly raised their prices by 525 percent and 212 percent respectively. Marathon had acquired the drugs from another company in 2013 and had quintupled their prices, according to the lawmakers, Senator Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, and Representative Elijah E. Cummings, Democrat of Maryland.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/21/business/a-huge-overnight-increase-in-a-drugs-price-raises-protests.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=1
An entrepreneur who acquired the rights to produce a life-saving drug then increased its price more than 50-fold overnight is defending his decision with assertions that the profits will help create better medicines in future.
Medical organizations protested loudly on Sunday after a company owned by controversial former hedge fund manager Martin Shkreli raised the price of the drug Daraprim, which treats a dangerous parasitic infection, from $13.50 per pill to $750 per pill.
Shkrelis startup company, Turing Pharmaceuticals, acquired Daraprim in August. The drug was first developed in the 1940s and is used to treat toxoplasmosis, an infection that is not common but is particularly dangerous and can be fatal when it affects babies born to mothers who have become infected or adults whose immune systems are critically compromised because they are suffering from Aids or some cancers.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/sep/21/entrepreneur-defends-raise-price-daraprim-drug
and this happened,
Bernie Sanders questions drug price spike
He demands an explanation for a leap from $13.50 per tablet to $750.
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is calling on a drug company to justify a dramatic spike in the price of a 62-year-old drug that was reported Sunday.
One day before rival Hillary Clinton is set to propose a plan to rein in high costs for specialty drugs, Sanders in a letter to Turing Pharmaceuticals demanded an explanation for why the price of a drug used to treat dangerous parasitical infections leapt from $13.50 per tablet to $750 after the company acquired the drug from a competitor.
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/bernie-sanders-drug-prices-213904
and on Monday this happened as reported by CNN.
Hillary Clinton tweet crushes bio-tech stocks
Biotech stocks tumbled on Monday after Clinton fired off a tweet about "price gouging" in biotech drugs.
Hillary Clinton ✔ @HillaryClinton
Price gouging like this in the specialty drug market is outrageous. Tomorrow I'll lay out a plan to take it on. -H https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/645656049882632192
9:56 AM - 21 Sep 2015
One of the hardest-hit biotech stocks was Retrophin (RTRX), which plummeted 14% on Monday. Retrophin was founded by Shkreli, but he was fired by Retrophin last year and the company has since sued him. Still, investors are clearly worried Shkreli used some of the same strategies that have gotten the attention of Clinton.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1212596
As for CNN no other dynamics were at play in the biotech loss than a Hillary tweet, no mention of the medical organizations protest, no mention of the negative media coverage and no mention of Bernie.
leftofcool
(19,460 posts)The stocks may have tanked but as far as I can tell, the drug is still costly and the idiot appears to not be changing his mind about the price gouging.
merrily
(45,251 posts)Last edited Tue Sep 22, 2015, 06:51 AM - Edit history (1)
as being about wanting Bernie to get credit?
stillwaiting
(3,795 posts)Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)it is a real shame that it doesn't bother you too.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)daleanime
(17,796 posts)is rather telling.
SCantiGOP
(13,873 posts)That he is no longer the ranking minority member of the Senate.
Uncle Joe
(58,417 posts)SCantiGOP
(13,873 posts)But all you see from the home page is the first half, which is misleading and confusing
Uncle Joe
(58,417 posts)to fit in the title, I tried it.
gregcrawford
(2,382 posts)The opening paragraphs state that Sanders is on a committee that oversees issues of health for the elderly and on another for the health of children. These committees exercise influence on policy governing drugs commonly prescribed for maladies suffered by these two groups.
The OP then proceeds to describe the huge overnight price hike of an essential drug by a start-up run by a hedge fund manager, for which Sanders, in his capacity of a committee member,not a presidential candidate, immediately demanded for an explanation.
Hillary quite rightly commented on the incident as well, but she has no official role in government at the moment.
CNN reported on Clinton's comment, which has no more bearing on the outcome of events than a comment from you or me, but made no mention of Sanders' official action, which might have serious consequences for Turing Pharmaceuticals.
The OP's point was in regard to the biased and inferior journalism of CNN, and had absolutely nothing to do with whether or not Sanders got "credit."
Skwmom
(12,685 posts)argue for Hillary and against Bernie.
gregcrawford
(2,382 posts)I made no mention of Sanders' drug legislation either, because that is not the point.
The OP specifically says that "...the Subcommittee also has oversight over many Primary Health issues including Community Health Centers, access to vaccines, oral health, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS..."
The OP is about CNN's sub-standard reporting, not throwing shade at Hillary.
It would appear that there are some who have reading comprehension issues.
This exhausts my interest in the subject. Have a nice day.
ablamj
(333 posts)Because all Bernie did was write a letter (who writes letters anymore?).
Fawke Em
(11,366 posts)They put it on letter head so it carries legal weight.
No matter how advanced we get regarding electronic communications, in the legal profession, paper is still king.
For taking a joke seriously
I've had a few jabs thrown my way this evening and I've lost my "sarcasm meter."
delrem
(9,688 posts)But don't expect those heathens to understand.
Admiral Loinpresser
(3,859 posts)jfern
(5,204 posts)Except that he's some scary socialist guy that BLM protested.
merrily
(45,251 posts)madokie
(51,076 posts)Not that I wouldn't rec it for me too but you know
merrily
(45,251 posts)NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Interesting read. Thanks.
merrily
(45,251 posts)Uncle Joe
(58,417 posts)ejbr
(5,856 posts)rgbecker
(4,834 posts)Nothing.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)Skwmom
(12,685 posts)generic drug prices.
Congress Investigating Why Generic Drug Prices Are Skyrocketing
Thursday, October 2, 2014
BURLINGTON, Vt., Oct. 2 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) today launched an investigation into soaring generic drug prices.
We are conducting an investigation into the recent staggering price increases for generic drugs used to treat everything from common medical conditions to life-threatening illnesses, Sanders, chairman of a Senate health care subcommittee, and Cummings, ranking member of the House oversight committee, wrote in letters to 14 pharmaceutical companies.
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/congress-investigating-why-generic-drug-prices-are-skyrocketing
They also introduced legislation recently.
He was also appointed ranking member in Dec 2014.
Sanders Appointed Ranking Member of Senate Budget Committee
Friday, December 12, 2014
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced Sanders appointment as the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee in the next session of Congress:
I want to thank Sen. Reid and the Democratic caucus for the opportunity to serve as the ranking member on the Senate Budget Committee. At a time when the middle class is disappearing and the gap between the rich and everybody else is growing wider, we need a budget which reflects the needs of working families and not Wall Street and the top 1 percent. I look forward to working with Democrats and Republicans on the committee to craft a budget that is fair to all Americans, not just the powerful special interests.
Uncle Joe
(58,417 posts)Skwmom
(12,685 posts)When I heard about the stock,my first thought - this is a way to make Clinton look like she is for the people (though she is not). And with the big money desperate to get her in, it's not exactly outside the realm of possibility.
Uncle Joe
(58,417 posts)To answer your question directly in no way am I associating Hillary with Bernie and Warren.
Skwmom
(12,685 posts)But I don't want to post it.
How twisted the world of politics is.
And this is not directed at you.
Uncle Joe
(58,417 posts)jwirr
(39,215 posts)she was not going to look into the actions of the investor but make a few tweaks in the system that now exists. In other words nothing to limit what the hedge fund investor is allowed to do. Even when it hurts both the patient and the taxpayer.
RiverLover
(7,830 posts)Everyone is invested in her now. That can't pay off if Sanders gets too much attention.
Great insight here Uncle Joe, thanks!!
rurallib
(62,448 posts)Hope O'Malley jumped in there also.
Now, if the corporate press will just report this..........
mak3cats
(1,573 posts)djean111
(14,255 posts)It would be well over a year before she could do squat about anything, if at all. And I doubt they would voluntarily lower prices this far in advance of anything. Also think the most she would do is have "serious conversations" about it. And those people know that. So, feh.
Uncle Joe
(58,417 posts)in the process of trying to magnify Hillary's power, influence and keep her name out front.
Even given on your second sentence would only be subject to Hillary being both nominated and elected, if both of those don't happen, there is not much of anything that she could do to punish the biotechs as she's not a member of the government now and wouldn't be then unless she jumped both hurdles.
djean111
(14,255 posts)Reminds me of that Madonna video - "Vogue". Strike a pose. Not the most popular pose? Strike a different pose.
And it is kinda funny, having "detailed plans", when her supporters constantly say oh, the GOP Congress won't work with a Dem president. Like setting up excuses ahead of time.
Skwmom
(12,685 posts)KoKo
(84,711 posts)saw this on CNN, also. I took it as a push to pump up Hillary's Health Care Plan unveiling today that both CNN & MSNBC were touting... claiming Hillary's Tweet caused Biotech Stock Crash showing up on both cables as the Morning News. Coordination....
Uncle Joe
(58,417 posts)in shorting naked put options and standard put options on the biotech index?
This article is discussing naked put options as opposed to put options, specifically for the biotech sector, it's from 2008 but I believe it may also hold relevance.
Where to Find the Free Money in Biotech
By Dr. George Huang
Friday, September 19, 2008
So if we're looking for solid returns in the short term, holding a biotech ETF is not going to do it. Going long gets us nowhere for the next few months. Instead, we need to turn to the options market...
Options offer several ways to profit from a sideways market. My favorite strategy is "shorting naked puts."
That might sound complicated... and risky. But as I'll show you, shorting naked puts is pretty straightforward, and it actually gives you a bigger margin of safety than simply owning a stock.
When you short a naked put, you're selling a put option on a stock you don't own. In other words, you get paid upfront for agreeing to buy a stock at a specified price at some point in the future. If the stock declines, then you buy it at the bargain-basement price. If the stock trades sideways or up, you keep the option premium as a profit.
Selling naked puts is a fantastic way to profit in biotech. In no other sector are option premiums higher. Let me explain...
(snip)
http://www.growthstockwire.com/1923/where-to-find-the-free-money-in-biotech
In finance, a put or put option is a stock market device which gives the owner of the put the right, but not the obligation, to sell an asset (the underlying), at a specified price (the strike), by a predetermined date (the expiry or maturity) to a given party (the seller of the put). Put options are most commonly used in the stock market to protect against the decline of the price of a stock below a specified price. If the price of the stock declines below the specified price of the put option, the owner/buyer of the put has the right, but not the obligation, to sell the asset at the specified price, while the seller of the put has the obligation to purchase the asset at the strike price if the owner uses the right to do so (the owner/buyer is said to exercise the put or put option). In this way the buyer of the put will receive at least the strike price specified, even if the asset is currently worthless.
If the strike is K, and at time t the value of the underlying is S(t), then in an American option the buyer can exercise the put for a payout of K-S(t) any time up until the option's maturity time T. The put yields a positive return only if the security price falls below the strike when the option is exercised. A European option can only be exercised at time T rather than any time up until T, and a Bermudan option can be exercised only on specific dates listed in the terms of the contract. If the option is not exercised by maturity, it expires worthless. (Note that the buyer will not exercise the option at an allowable date if the price of the underlying is greater than K.)
The most obvious use of a put is as a type of insurance. In the protective put strategy, the investor buys enough puts to cover his holdings of the underlying so that if a drastic downward movement of the underlying's price occurs, he has the option to sell the holdings at the strike price. Another use is for speculation: an investor can take a short position in the underlying stock without trading in it directly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Put_option
Thanks for being here, KoKo.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)Holdings and he wouldn't answer except to say he had little holdings in Biotech...but was always "hedged" in his holdings with equal "puts & calls." Yeah...right. But, when Hillary Tweeted and Biotech fell we have to figure he made some money in his Biotech Stocks one way or the other!
What a creep he is. And, I think we just might hear more about his "dealings" since he's already withdrawn his Price Increase on the drugs he was criticized for ripping people off who couldn't afford them. But, only after the news of the "Harassment Lawsuit Against him came out later today.
This guy seems to have "played the game" but got caught up in his own criminality for his past deeds. Still this issue shouldn't go away because it exposes the problems that need to be fixed in the ACA and Big Pharma influence for the future. Plus what about our Criminal Stock Market... Who knows what they do in the back rooms with their Algorithms these days.
Catherina
(35,568 posts)Thanks for the thread Uncle Joe
Uncle Joe
(58,417 posts)Peace to you, Catherina.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Uncle Joe
(58,417 posts)beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)questionseverything
(9,659 posts)last sunday my local paper ran an article on hc...it did mention at the end that she had lost the lead in iowa and nh butttttttttt
did NOT say who she lost it to
twas an ap article by lisa lerer and kathleen ronayne
to be fair i do not know if the reporters left out WHO she lost her lead to or if my paper cut the article off
what i am trying to say is, this is going to be everywhere it is called "manufactured consent"
thanks for great op uncle joe
Uncle Joe
(58,417 posts)much if not most of the corporate media believe that Bernie is Voldermort.
Peace to you, questioneverything.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)of learning what they are up to now. Though I'm sure if the people don't take this country out of the hands of these Corporate thugs, they will do their best to buy up the internet also.
This is our chance while we still have a way to overcome the monopoly that took over the airwaves, to begin the process of restoring Democracy.
If we don't take it now, who knows where all this will end, so far it's been pretty brutal for the victims of the Corporate takeover.
Uncle Joe
(58,417 posts)but I believe the tide is turning.
Peace to you, sabrina.
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)jkbRN
(850 posts)k&r
frylock
(34,825 posts)Iwillnevergiveup
(9,298 posts)a well-deserved window is opening, letting in a current of fresh air that demonstrates the truth: the corruption and unmitigated greed of big pharma. Mind boggling.
K&R
Uncle Joe
(58,417 posts)Peace to you, Iwillnevergiveup.