Hillary Clinton Statement on EpiPen Pricing

Hillary Clinton called out drug maker Mylan for the increase in the price of its EpiPen product. An EpiPen is used to prevent anaphylactic shock by those with serious allergy attacks. The active drug in the product, the hormone epinephrine, costs less than $1 for the amount in a single dose. Yet, researchers note that the price of the EpiPen has increased 400% over the past few years with one EpiPen costing $57 in 2007 and a two pack of EpiPens costing $600 today. Clinton is not alone in asking Mylan for explanation. Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Claire McCaskill of Missouri have also sent letters to the manufacture. Late last year, Clinton proposed updates to prescription drug regulations that will prevent drug makers from overcharging for medications. A copy of Clinton’s statement is below.

“Millions of Americans with severe allergies rely on their EpiPens.  When an allergic reaction leads to anaphylactic shock, a shot of epinephrine can literally be the difference between life and death.  But now, just as parents are about to send kids with severe food and insect allergies back to school, the EpiPen’s manufacturer is hiking its price to an all-time high.

Over the last several years, Mylan Pharmaceuticals has increased the price of EpiPens by more than 400%.  They’re now charging up to $600 for a two-EpiPen set that must be replaced every 12-18 months. This both increases out-of-pocket costs for families and first responders, and contributes to higher premiums for all Americans and their employers.

That’s outrageous — and it’s just the latest troubling example of a company taking advantage of its consumers. I believe that our pharmaceutical and biotech industries can be an incredible source of American innovation, giving us revolutionary treatments for debilitating diseases.  But it’s wrong when drug companies put profits ahead of patients, raising prices without justifying the value behind them. 

That’s why I’ve put forward a plan to address exorbitant drug price hikes like these.  As part of my plan, I’ve made clear that pharmaceutical manufacturers should be required to explain significant price increases, and prove that any additional costs are linked to additional patient benefits and better value.  Since there is no apparent justification in this case, I am calling on Mylan to immediately reduce the price of EpiPens.

In addition, when it comes to treatments like delivering epinephrine that have been available for decades, my plan encourages the production of alternative products.  That’s how we can harness the power of competition to keep drug prices at a level that all Americans can afford.”

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

News Source: The Verge

Hillary Clinton Campaigns in Pittsburgh

On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton attended a rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During her speech, Clinton ripped into Republican Donald Trump for his speech yesterday in response to the deadly attack in Orlando, Florida. She criticized his divisive language and renewed proposal of banning all Muslims from entering the United States. She also spoke about the importance of regulating the sales of guns saying, “We need to lift up voices of moderation and tolerance. I believe we Americans are capable of both protecting our Second Amendment rights while making sure guns don’t fall into the wrong hands. The terrorist in Orlando was the definition of the wrong hands. And weapons of war have no place in our streets.” Clinton called for the country to come together and politicians to work together, across party lines, to ensure that an attack of this nature is not possible in the future. A video from her speech is below.

In Portland, Maine, a fundraiser was held on behalf of Hillary for America. Former Congressman Barney Frank and Mary Bonauto spoke at the event that was hosted at Coffey by Design.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: Pittsburgh City Paper, The Morning Call, CBS Pittsburgh

Hillary Clinton Endorsed by The Los Angeles Times

Yesterday, The Los Angeles Times Editorial Board published their endorsement of Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders in Tuesday’s Democratic primary in California. The primary reason for their endorsement is that Clinton’s experience and political acumen make her better prepared to go up against Republican nominee Donald Trump. They also argued that Clinton’s plans are more practical, and her background and history of working with both Democrats and Republicans suggests that she will be better at accomplishing her plans as president.

The board said that Clinton is better prepared than Sanders to be president saying, “But Clinton is not only more knowledgeable about domestic and international affairs than Sanders, but also more likely to achieve objectives they have in common. Her speech last week on foreign policy in San Diego  — in which she skillfully skewered Trump for his ignorance and recklessness — was a reminder of the breadth of her understanding of international affairs. On domestic policy, her positions on issues such as healthcare and financial regulation are less utopian than what Sanders has proposed but also more realistic.”

The board did have several positive comments about Sanders saying that he has done a great job getting the attention of voters and shining the spotlight on a number of important issues. But the board concludes, “Voters in California’s Democratic primary owe a debt of gratitude to Bernie Sanders for a campaign that has emphasized issues that otherwise might have been ignored. But they should cast their votes for Hillary Clinton.” Read the full editorial HERE.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: The Los Angeles Times

Clinton Hosts Town Halls in Iowa

Yesterday, Hillary Rodham Clinton attended two town hall events in Iowa. The first was held in Coralville, where Clinton hosted an outdoor event on an unseasonably warm day. Clinton opened the event with remarks about several of her policy points including gun control. Clinton then answered a number of questions from those in attendance. She was asked about a variety of topics including the backlog at the Department of Veteran Affairs, tensions with China, and immigration. Clinton then went to Grinnell College in Grinnell. Clinton held a very similar event where, again, she proposed tougher gun regulations and taking the National Rifle Association. She said, “A majority of Americans and a majority of gun owners know we have to make the changes. What stands in the way? One of the most powerful lobbies in our country. The NRA, that intimidates and bullies legislators and governors into doing what they want. That must end.”

Videos from yesterday’s events will be posted when/if available.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: The New York Times, The Guardian

Clinton Returns to New Hampshire

On Friday, Hillary Rodham Clinton was back in New Hampshire for two events. The first was a town hall on the campus of Keene State College. A long topic of conversation during the 80 minute event was gun control. Clinton answered several questions about her plans and the difference between her and her rivals. In addition, Clinton was also asked about her opposition to the Glass-Steagall Act, her views on LGBT discrimination, and other aspects of her platform. A full video from the town hall is available on C-SPAN.

Clinton then went to a grass roots even in Nashua where she spoke a number of her key plans, but she focused on Afghanistan and President Barack Obama’s plans to extend US presence. That means that his successor will have to address what to do with troop levels in Afghanistan. She did not provide any specific plans for Afghanistan at this point, but she said, “We have invested a lot of blood and a lot of treasure in trying to help that country and we can’t afford for it to become an outpost of the Taliban and ISIS one more time, threatening us, threatening the larger world.”

Tomorrow, Clinton is scheduled to appear at the Alabama Democratic Conference. For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: Boston Herald, ABC News

Clinton Unveils Wall Street Plan

MANCHESTER, NH – SEPTEMBER 19: Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton raises her arms stands on stage during the New Hampshire Democratic Party Convention at the Verizon Wireless Center on September 19, 2015 in Manchester, New Hampshire. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

On Thursday, Hillary Rodham Clinton unveiled her plan to regulate Wall Street and protect Americans. In an op-ed on Bloomberg she explained her plan and her reasoning for a number of its points. She then released details of the plan on The Briefing. The plan is very detailed and it would be impossible to insert the entire plan into this post. We have summarized the main points below:

• Defend and preserve Dodd-Frank
  • Veto any legislation that attempts to weaken the law
  • Fight Republican attempts to repeal it
• Reduce dangerous risks in the financial system
  • Impose a “risk fee” on the liabilities with of banks with more than $50 billion in assets
  • Reorganize, downsize, or break apart firms that are too large and too risky
  • Increase oversight of the “shadow banking” system to reduce risk
  • Introduce high-frequency trading tax for the stock markets
  • Impose compensation rules on senior management of banking institutions that suffer losses that threaten its financial health
  • Strengthen the Vlocker Rule (which prohibits banks from making risky or speculative trading bets with taxpayer-backed money)
  • Increase transparency in the banking system
  • Introduce international cooperation to curb excessive risk-taking
  • Increase the financial system’s security against cyber attacks
• Hold individuals and corporations responsible when they break the law or put the system at risk
  • Ensure individual accountability when prosecuting wrongdoing
  • Ensure that fines affect the bonuses of executives, supervisors, and employees with misconduct takes place on their watch
  • Prohibit individuals in financial services from working in the industry after being convicted of egregious crimes
  • Extend the statute of limitations for financial fraud
  • Strongly prosecute insider traders
  • Create guidelines for that ensure transparency and accountability
  • Require that corporations admit to wrongdoing as a condition of settlement agreements
  • Increase transparency of corporate settlements
  • Restrict SEC waivers for repeat offenders
  • Give prosecutors the resources to punish law-breakers
  • Strengthen the SEC and CFTC
  • Increase maximum penalties for SEC and CFTC actions
  • Reward whistleblowers for bringing illegal activities to attention of authorities
• Ensure that the financial systems serves investors and consumers, not just itself
  • Make sure that Wall Street helps Main Street grow and prosper
  • Protect all Americans from unfair and deceptive practices that put their earned income at risk

Clinton’s plan protects hard working Americans while ensuring that those who threaten the economy and financial system as a whole are held accountable. You can read the plan in full on The Briefing and read her op-ed on Bloomberg. She summed up her plan saying, “The bottom line is that we can never allow what happened in 2008 to happen again. Just as important, we have to encourage Wall Street to live up to its proper role in our economy — helping Main Street grow and prosper. With strong rules of the road and smart incentives, the financial industry can help more young families buy that first home, make it possible for entrepreneurs to create new small businesses and support hardworking Americans saving for retirement. My plan will help us unlock that potential. We’ll create good-paying jobs, raise incomes and help families afford a middle-class life, with less speculation and more growth — growth that’s strong, fair and long-term. That’s what I’m fighting for in my campaign, and that’s what I’ll do as president.”

Tonight, Clinton will present an award during the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Gala, and she will attend a private fundraiser in Washington, DC. For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: Bloomberg, The Briefing, The New York Times, Business Insider

Clinton in Florida

Today, Hillary Rodham Clinton made several appearances in Florida. Her only public event was a grassroots organizing event at Broward College in Davie where she gave a speech. In her speech, Clinton responded to yesterday’s shooting at a community college in Oregon by criticizing Republicans for backing down from imposing stricter gun regulations because they are heavily influenced by the NRA. She used strong language saying that Republicans continue to, “put the NRA ahead of American families.” During her half hour speech, Clinton also addressed a number of topics including climate change and the expansion of Medicaid for Floridians. A video from Clinton’s speech is below.

While in Florida, Clinton also attended three private fundraisers. The first, in North Palm Beach, was hosted by Robin Noyes and Fred Cunningham. Cunningham is a founding partner of Cunningham, Whalen & Gaspari. The second event was held at the home of Sharon and Mitchell Berger in Fort Lauderdale. The final fundraiser took place this evening at the Miami Beach home of prominent Democratic fundraisers Abigail and F.J. Pollak. As with all private fundraisers, the event was closed to the press.

Tomorrow, Clinton is scheduled to attend the Human Rights Campaign’s National Dinner before appearing on Saturday Night Live. For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: WFLA, Tampa Bay Times, CNN