Ranking Member Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., speaks as U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer appears at a Senate Finance Committee hearing on U.S. trade on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 17, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 7:31 AM PT — Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Democrats have reversed their support of a bipartisan measure to lower drug prices. On Monday, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) announced he will not co-sponsor the bill he previously negotiated with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).
Wyden claimed Republicans never truly supported the measure and accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of having no intentions of bringing it to a vote.
Grassley, however, retorted Democrats are playing partisan games and are withdrawing support in order to use drug prices as a “political hammer” during the November election. The Iowa Republican said he will reintroduce the bill regardless of whether it receives Democrat support.
Meanwhile, nearly a dozen Democrats broke with House leaders on an amendment that would ensure the House can’t impede the development of a coronavirus vaccine.
On Monday, Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) offered to recommit the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act. His offer would attach an amendment to the bill to ensure no part of the legislation would hinder research into potential treatments or a vaccine for COVID-19.
.@repgregwalden wanted to make sure Democrats' bill doesn't prevent development of a coronavirus vaccine.
Democrats voted AGAINST this idea. pic.twitter.com/SGyXqTgpPm
— Mark Bednar (@MarkBednar) June 29, 2020
Although the motion was ultimately struck down by the Democrat-controlled House, nine Democrats voted in favor of it. If the bill was recommitted, it would have been sent back to the Energy and Commerce Committee for further review.
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