Bernie Sanders endorses 'Ohio Issue 2' drug pricing measure
July 24, 2017
Excerpt:
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is throwing his support and his image behind an Ohio ballot measure that seeks to reduce state spending on prescription drugs. Sanders was an outspoken opponent of the pharmaceutical industry during his unsuccessful Democratic Party presidential primary race and in the months since last year's election.
Issue 2 on the November ballot would require Ohio to pay no more for prescription drugs than the the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does. Supporters of the proposed law say it would save the state $400 million a year on drugs bought through Medicaid, state retirement plans and other state-operated health programs. Opponents, which include professional medical associations, chambers of commerce and pharmaceutical industry backers, dispute the savings and say the measure would cause privately insured Ohioans to pay more for drugs.
Sanders appears in a new 30-second ad supporting the measure but doesn't mention Ohio once. Campaign spokesman Dennis Willard confirmed the ad uses footage recorded last year during the California campaign. Willard couldn't say Monday whether Sanders will visit Ohio to rally support for the measure or appear in future campaign advertisements.
"Sen. Sanders has committed to this issue and will be involved," Willard said in an interview.
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/07/bernie_sanders_endorses_ohio_i.html