You probably recall the “deal” President Obama, Max Baucus (bought with over a million dollars from the insurance and pharmaceutical industries in the current cycle alone), and Big Pharma made a while back. You know, the one that nobody asked you about, declaring that the re-importation of drugs from Canada would not be a part of any comprehensive health care reform? Well, they didn’t ask Byron Dorgan’s opinion of it either, and he says “bullshit!” Dorgan intends to introduce an amendment to health care reform calling for the importation of drugs, similar to a bill already introduced in the Senate ( S. 1232) which the Congressional Budget Office estimates would result in $50 billion in direct savings over the next decade – saving the federal govenment $10.6 billion. Since S. 1232 already has 30 cosponsors – Republicans Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, John Thune, and Senator Family Values, David Vitter, there’s a pretty good chance it’ll pass, assuming it comes to a floor vote, which seems likely, as Harry Reid has voted for drug importation in the past. It’d be better to allow the feds to negotiate for drug prices (or, god forbid, set limits the way other countries do) rather than play this “re-importation” game, but good for you, Byron. And shame on any Democrat who votes against it (and shame on the Democrats who got into bed with the drug companies to come up with this “deal” in the first place).

Speaking of health care reform, Jay Rockefeller is set to offer an amendment to the Senate Finance Committee’s version of health care reform, calling for a public option. Chuck Schumer (who supports and will vote for Rockefeller’s amendment) will offer his own, weaker, amendment as a backup option. Getting any sort of public option through the SFC will be awfully difficult, but will bode well for any bill that makes it to the Senate floor for a vote. Liberal Democrats appear to have actually developed a spine over this, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens.

Rally in Albany today for health care workers that don’t want to be H1N1 vaccine guinea pigs (NY being the only – so far – state mandating flu vaccines). Surprisingly, it even made the local news. Be there, or be square.

As for me, I can’t attend, ‘cuz have to go to work.