Taking on the pharmaceutical industry is daunting for any politician. Drug companies spend millions in both campaign contributions and on lobbyists to persuade Members of Congress to protect their profits. Congressman Gil Gutknecht (R-MN) does not blame the pharmaceutical industry for current laws and regulations surrounding prescription drug importation, but went with his heart when he took on the issue as one of his major legislative projects for the 108th Congress.
Each year, TSCL honors one or more Members of Congress with its MVP award for legislative action. This year, none was more deserving than Congressman Gutknecht.
Representative Gutknecht — who represents the people of Minnesota’s First District — first became aware of importation issues when hog farmers in his district were losing their livelihood to imports of Canadian pork. Congressman Gutknecht soon learned that trade restrictions between the United States and Canada were few — except for one industry — pharmaceuticals.
Because of the power of the pharmaceutical industry, drug manufacturers have protections like none other. To Congressman Gutknecht, it seemed inconsistent that free trade applied to hogs, but not medicines.
Congressman Gutknecht has traveled extensively in the U.S. and in Germany to review European practices of exporting and importing prescriptions between nations. He continues to crusade for making safe, affordable prescription drugs available not only to American seniors, but all Americans. In conjunction with Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty – who is establishing a program for state workers to be able to purchase medicines from Canada more cheaply – Congressman Gutknecht is raising the profile of the issue nationwide.
Congressman Gutknecht’s travels led him to North Carolina to participate in a seniors’ Town Hall meeting, and — more recently — to Denver for a similar meeting. In Colorado, TSCL Vice Chair Dottie Holmes served as part of a panel discussing reimportation. In North Carolina, TSCL legislative consultant David Funderburk and another friend of the elderly, Congressman Walter Jones, also participated.
TSCL appreciates the time Congressman Gutknecht took to attend our Congressional Reception and personally accept the MVP award. We thank him for his convictions and his efforts. We are proud to be with him in this fight.
June 2004
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