PhRMA Stops Gathering Signatures for ‘Paycheck Protection’ Ballot Initiative
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America on Friday said that it has suspended signature gathering toward its "paycheck protection" ballot initiative, a measure that would block state and local government agencies from processing the dues of public employee unions involved in political activities, the Sacramento Bee reports.
PhRMA did not say why it discontinued efforts to qualify the initiative, on which it had committed to spend more than $3 million, the Bee reports (Smith, Sacramento Bee, 4/23).
PhRMA in February designated $10 million toward efforts to qualify three initiatives for the next statewide ballot, including a plan to cap attorneys' contingency fees, an initiative similar to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) California Rx plan and the union measure (California Healthline, 2/15).
Earlier this month, it withdrew the contingency fee initiative after reaching an agreement with the Consumer Attorneys of California, which opposed the measure (California Healthline, 4/5).