Darlene Hooley: “Right now I do not think there is a bigger issue facing seniors in Oregon and elsewhere in the United States than…”

“Right now I do not think there is a bigger issue facing seniors in Oregon and elsewhere in the United States than prescription drugs. Two months ago, Mr. Speaker, a massive ad campaign was undertaken in the Portland media market attacking me for defending senior citizens who cannot afford the high cost of prescription drugs. The ads were paid for by Citizens for Better Medicare, a group that looks grass roots, an organization that claims to be representing interests of patients and seniors, but as we all know, looks can be deceiving. In reality, this ad campaign was primarily funded by the pharmaceutical companies. Mr. Speaker, let me set the record straight, I do not want to get in a shoving match with the pharmaceutical industry. These companies spend tens of millions of dollars to develop cures for diseases, and we should take great care to work with them and help them make these essential medicines more affordable for our seniors and working families. But in that same light, I am not going to let multi-million dollar ad campaigns prevent me from doing something in this Congress to act on this issue.”