* From a publication called STAT…

State lawmakers in Oregon have tried to lower high drug prices from nearly every angle: They’ve sought to cap how much people can pay for insulin, install a panel that could determine how much state agencies should pay for medicines, and even import drugs in bulk from Canada. Nearly every proposal has failed.

One reason, at least according to the effort’s supporters: Two-thirds of the state legislature accepted at least one campaign check from the drug industry during the 2020 election cycle. The trade group PhRMA, alone, wrote checks to 43 of the legislature’s 90 lawmakers.

It was even more dramatic in Louisiana, where 84% of lawmakers accepted funding from pharmaceutical companies. In California, it was 82%, and in Illinois, 76% of legislators cashed a check.

The campaign contributions are certainly an issue, but we have a lot of pharmaceutical companies in Illinois and, therefore, tons of employees here, which is part of the reason the companies get their way here. Same with insurance companies. Lots of headquarters, lots of employees. Also, most of the contributions were on the small side. Former Sen. Andy Manar received a total of $5,500 last year from three pharma interests, even though he pushed hard for caps on insulin prices. But, that revelation would upend the narrative.

* On to Crain’s…

It may be a new day in Springfield now that Mike Madigan is gone as Illinois House speaker. But certain things never change in politics, including big dollar fundraisers thrown on behalf of key lawmakers.

Coming up this very Wednesday, June 9, is a virtual fundraiser for Emanuel “Chris” Welch, who just finished up his first session as House speaker.

The event is being hosted by Personal PAC, a pro-choice group which has managed to pass much of its agenda into law in recent years but still has one big item remaining. That would be repealing the state’s parental notice law, which requires minors to involve a family member—or a judge—before having an abortion. […]

So, would you be surprised to hear that a measure sponsored by Speaker Welch to repeal the parental notice law is sitting in a House committee and waiting for a vote?

Nice framing, but did anybody think that big-dollar fundraisers would end with Madigan? Also, Welch’s bill, which he has filed before, is currently in the House Rules Committee. It’s still on First Reading. It went nowhere and it’s not currently teed up in the least. The Senate was supposed to take up the bill first, but the chamber never called it for a vote. Welch has been an ally, so of course they’re doing a fundraiser for him.

One other thing, the piece above claims that it’s not specified where the money is going, just that the cash will be “funneled” through ActBlue. I have a couple emails announcing the fundraiser. They both clearly state the contributions are to be made out to “The People for Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch.”

* And, finally, check out this lede…

An Exelon lobbyist is suing on behalf of a former Illinois lawmaker to secure a big payday for some of the same legislators who may soon vote on a massive ratepayer-funded bailout of the utility’s nuclear plants.

Whew.