PhRMA Support of California Rx Ballot Measure Examined
The San Jose Mercury News on Saturday examined efforts by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America in support of a ballot measure based on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) proposed California Rx plan, which would provide discounts on prescription drugs to eligible state residents.
PhRMA in two weeks has raised $7.7 million to promote a potential ballot initiative that would reflect the administration's proposal, and the group hopes to raise a total of $10 million. By comparison, groups supporting the governor's other possible ballot initiatives had collected about $2.6 million as of Friday.
PhRMA's fund-raising effort also includes a "pre-emptive strike at two potential monied adversaries: unions and trial lawyers," the Mercury News reports.
In addition, PhRMA has "lined up a high-profile campaign team," including former Democratic Assembly Speaker Willie Brown and Bob White, a former Schwarzenegger aide and chief of staff to former Gov. Pete Wilson (R), according to the Mercury News (Folmar, San Jose Mercury News, 3/12).