Citizens Against Government Waste America's #1 Taxpayer Watchdog

Conservative politicians like to say they are for free markets, competition, and property rights to promote innovation and lower prices of goods.  But when it comes to pharmaceuticals, too many of them go careening off the freedom road to promote socialist policies.  They fail to recognize the years of expensive clinical trials and complicated protocols, the thousands of failed prospects that still must be paid for, and the lengthy Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process to get just one drug into the marketplace. 

Each year, April 26 marks the celebration of World IP Day, when the importance of intellectual property rights and the achievements gained from its protection are recognized.  According to the Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) intellectual property (IP) contributes $6.6 trillion to America’s GDP.  In 2019, the World IP Day celebration focuses on sports and the IP that enables past, present, and future athletes to compete and meet their goals.

The Trump administration proposed using an International Pricing Index in October 2018 to reimburse providers for drugs administered under Medicare Part B.  These drugs require the involvement of a physician and include, but are not limited to, infused and injectable drugs, some antigens, drugs used with durable medical equipment, and blood clotting factors.  Instead of reimbursing the provider of Part B d

About a year ago, President Donald Trump’s administration imposed heavy tariffs on foreign manufactured aluminum and steel.  This triggered a domino effect of retaliatory tariffs with China.

The administration’s protectionist moves have scared American businesses and investors. In all, the U.S. has put tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods.  The administration has justified these tariffs by claiming that trade protectionism creates domestic jobs.  However, that anecdotal claim is untrue.