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CONCORD, NH — This week, major pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly announced that it will follow the lead of President Joe Biden; Senate Diabetes Caucus Co-Chair Sen. Jeanne Shaheen; Sen. Maggie Hassan; Rep. Annie Kuster; and Rep. Chris Pappas, and cap the cost of its insulin at $35 a month. This move builds on the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and the work of Sen. Shaheen, who has long led action in the U.S. Senate to lower the soaring cost of insulin.
Now, President Biden and Democrats are calling on Republicans to help finish the job so that all of the nearly 100,000 Granite Staters living with diabetes will be able to afford the life-saving medication.
Yet instead of supporting these efforts, Republican presidential hopefuls coming through New Hampshire have already put themselves on the record against the Inflation Reduction Act — historic legislation that caps the cost of insulin for seniors on Medicare at $35 per month.
Governor Chris Sununu opposed the Inflation Reduction Act and signed onto a statement with 21 Republican governors that called the legislation a “reckless tax and spending spree.”
The Center Square: “Republican governors call Democrat spending bill ‘reckless’”
Let’s not forget: GOP senators like Tim Scott actually went out of their way to strip out a provision from the Inflation Reduction Act that also would have capped the cost of insulin at $35 for Americans on private insurance.
Washington Post: “GOP senators move to strip a $35 price cap on insulin under private insurance from the Inflation Reduction Act”
NBC: “Republicans block cap on insulin costs for many Americans from Democratic deal”
Not to mention, Donald Trump repeatedly promised to bring down the cost of insulin as president — and failed.
CNBC: “Eli Lilly CEO rebuffs Trump’s attack on drug prices”
Washington Post: “Trump boasted he made insulin so cheap ‘it’s like water.’ Americans with diabetes beg to differ.”
And after every single Republican in Congress voted against this landmark legislation, they've now pledged to try to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act — an action that would raise prescription drug costs for people in New Hampshire.
Rolling Stone: “House Democrats Pass Historic Climate, Healthcare Bill over Republican Opposition”
Axios: “Some key House Republicans are calling for the repeal of Democrats’ newly-passed drug pricing measure if the GOP flips control of one or both chambers of Congress next year.”
Rep. Carter: “With the prescription drug pricing, that’s something I’m very interested in as a pharmacist. And I’ve been asking my colleagues ‘how are we going to undo that when we get into the majority?’”