New York Times: New Jersey Congressmen pushed FDA to overrule scientists to aid donors
By Wally EdgeToday's must-read story comes from the New York Times, which reports that after scientists for the Food and Drug Administration ruled that a medical device was unsafe and often failed, U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, and U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone and Steven Rothman successfully exerted pressure on the FDA to change their decision. The manufacturer of Menaflex, a patch for injured knees, ReGen Biologics, Inc., made what the Times called "significant" contributions to their campaigns a few months before they intervened with the FDA.
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Pallone...
Always has been a whore to special interests. So out of touch. So pathetic. He screws the shore communities with higher taxes and sends moronic mail pieces into their communities expressing his support of inane things. The guy is the single biggest moron/whore in Congress.
short on details
the article doesn't really say how the Congressmen exerted pressure. Writing a letter and a few phone calls, is that it?
The FDA is an independent agency... so why were they feeling pressured at all? Because of budget concerns?
There's some key details missing here.
Mr. Democrat...
naivete personified. I love PHARMA's payment for mass media buys where they feature Pallone and Mendendez encouraging people to call PHARMA's drug help call line. "Hi. This is Frank Pallone" bla bla bla... as though he is a good spokesman to encourage or endorse PHARMA's help line. Good grief, his voice sounds like a whining 6 year old. It was a blatant effort to help him get some free advertising - a campaign contribution through free ads masquerading as a public service. Pallone... whore to special interests.
something smells
something smells fishy here and I am not talking about Lautenberg's aftershave. If this were a Republican advocating for a device that was rejected by scientists, Pallone and crew would be calling for an investigation, dragging the FDA, the scientists and the Republican before a committee.