Pelosi blesses 'transformational' drug pricing deal endorsed by key holdout Kyrsten Sinema

In a win for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Democrats have reached a deal on lowering presciption drug pricing as part of their $1.75 trillion spending package, The Hill and The Wall Street Journal report.
"For a generation, House Democrats have been fighting to deliver real drug price negotiations that will lower costs," the speaker wrote in a statement on Tuesday. "With today's agreement ... Democrats have a path forward to make good on this transformational agenda for our seniors."
"I am pleased with the compromise reached by House members and [Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz)]," Pelosi added.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
When announcing the agreement, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also made sure to note that support from key holdout Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), who had opposed the House's much broader prescription drug proposal, writes The New York Times. Medicare pricing provisions had been excluded from the $1.75 trillion framework released by the White House last week, but only because President Biden worried they would impact the bill's congressional chances, per the Journal. This new "hard-fought" agreement may not include everything Democrats' wanted, but "it's a big step in helping the American people deal with the price of drugs," Schumer said.
Medicare drug price negotiation was one of the last unresolved issues in the $1.75 trillion bill, notes the Los Angeles Times. Other negotiation points include climate and immigration.
"Fixing prescription drug pricing has consistently been a top issue for Americans year after year, including the vast majority of both Democrats and Republicans who want to see a change because they simply cannot afford their medications," said Schumer on Tuesday. "Today, we've taken a massive step forward in helping alleviate that problem."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
How potatoes became an 'unusual bellwether' in Russia's economy
Under The Radarp Spud shortages are pointing to a wider crisis in the nation's finances
-
7 food trails worth zipping along
The Week Recommends Take a bite out of the United States
-
Libraries are feeling the cost burden of e-book popularity
Under the Radar Certain states are working to change laws around e-book purchasing for libraries
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
Gavin Newsom mulls California redistricting to counter Texas gerrymandering
TALKING POINTS A controversial plan has become a major flashpoint among Democrats struggling for traction in the Trump era
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation