[rives]

Hmmm.... any more questions about the current federal approach to mmj? Chicago politicians certainly have their own way of doing things.

Link here

Three years ago, President Obama cut a secret deal with pharmaceutical company lobbyists to secure the industry’s support for his national health care law. Despite Obama’s promises during his campaign to run a transparent administration, the deal has been shrouded in mystery ever since. But internal emails obtained by House Republicans now provide evidence that a deal was struck and GOP investigators are promising to release more details in the coming weeks.

“What the hell?” White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina, who is now Obama’s campaign manager, complained to a lobbyist for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) in January 15, 2010 email. “This wasn’t part of our deal.”

This reference to “our deal” came two months before the final passage of Obamacare in an email with the subject line, “FW: TAUZIN EMAIL.” At the time, Billy Tauzin was president and CEO of PhRMA.

The email was uncovered as part of investigation into Obama’s closed-door health care negotiations launched by the House Energy and Commerce committee’s oversight panel.

“In the coming weeks the Committee intends to show what the White House agreed to do as part of its deal with the pharmaceutical industry and how the full details of this agreement were kept from both the public and the House of Representatives,” the committee’s Republican members wrote in a memo today.

On June 20, 2009, Obama released a terse 296-word statement announcing a deal between pharmaceutical companies and the Senate that didn’t mention any involvement by the White House.

“The investigation has determined that the White House, primarily through Office of Health Reform Director Nancy Ann DeParle and Messina, with involvement from Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, was actively engaged in these negotiations while the role of Congress was limited,” the committee members wrote. “For example, three days before the June 20 statement, the head of PhRMA promised Messina, ‘we will deliver a final yes to you by morning.’ Meanwhile, Ms. DeParle all but confirmed that half of the Legislative Branch was shut out in an email to a PhRMA representative: ‘I think we should have included the House in the discussions, but maybe we never would have gotten anywhere if we had.’”

Read the full memo here.

i'm not surprised, welcome to the jungle

[VirginHarvester]

I don't think he was trying to make a secret deal with big pharma as much as just practicing for when he made secret deals with Russia.

[ChumLeeJr]

There is too much money at stake for there NOT to be some kind of sleazy deal.

I'm not surprised. A little sad, because Barry O seemed to be different, but I'm not so naive that I forgot how dirty Chitown politicians have been since before Alphonse Capone. Just saying the name "Daley" makes me wanna throw up in my mouth a little, and Rod "Hair Club for Felons" Blagojevich just lowered the bar to snake underbelly height.

I don't think it matters who the polit is - the pockets are SOOOO deep in the Pharma camp, they could cajole Hitler to felch a rabbi.

Big Pharma. Big Chem. Big Booze. Big Oil. All are raping the public in ways we can't imagine - but they are paying some people handsomely for the right to do it.

You know there is some evil shit going down when the gov't blatantly patents the ingredient in our humble little herb, then denies sick people the right to use it for free, but SELLS the right to corporations that will profit handsomely from the sales of it to those same sick folks.

^^

If we we're in the guy's shoes we would have done the same

Tar and Feathers in 2012!

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

Originally Posted by longearedfriend

^^

If we we're in the guy's shoes we would have done the same

speak for yourself.

[marrdogg]

You gotta think about it, why would you spend millions to win an office seat that pays roughly $400,000.00 a year. Yes he cut that deal and many others trust. Every president whether he was before office or not leaves office a millionaire several times over. The people that donated to the cause make millions(billions) everybody's happy. I believe presidents don't give a fuck about the country just how much they can make off it during there (TURN!). Everybody's vying for their opportunity to hold that seat so they can make the big bucks. Look at Obama's place of residence before office, will bet when he leaves nothing less than a mansion will do. Note, from a financial stand point the Obama's don't make much more money than they did before the election so technically they should have been able to afford the lifestyle they have now then but they couldn't, figures. Every living ex president is living a lifestyle they would not have been afforded if it wasn't for office unless you were wealthy beforehand. Now let me stop my rumbling, politics can't stand them. PEACE!

[Iraganji]

Corruption is ugly.

Unfortunately, the world is set up this way. It's a big boys club and we aren't in it. We damn sure know what it's like under it's thumb though.
More of these sorts of things need to come to light, so the "slow" people who enjoy their denial and cognitive dissonance have a chance
to realize they're being lied to and abused by a system and power structure which will stop at nothing. The good people of this earth don't need
more pills accepted by the FDA thrust upon them in order to increase shareholder stock value. We don't need medicine that cause other medical
issues requiring more medicine. They are approving medicine known to cause cancer for petes sake (amongst many other nasty side effects).

Perhaps I should take some chantix to quit smoking so I don't die too soon?..... Um, not this cat man, I don't need any suicidal thoughts or
actions!

Freedom to cannabis and to the people!

Peace

[subrob]

So why arent they disclosing the details? I dont understand...it seems promises were made..so why arent they filling in the blanks? I wanna know