Capitol News

Michigan Democratic lawmakers criticized Senate candidate Mike Rogers for his support of a tax law they say benefits pharmaceutical companies and keeps prescription drug prices high for Michigan residents, particularly those with rare diseases and cancer.

At a press conference in Lansing on Wednesday, State Representative Matt Longjohn (D-Portage), who is also a public health advocate, and State Representative Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor), a rare disease advocate, spoke about the effects of the GOP-backed tax legislation that Rogers has supported.

“I don’t know if I can point to another politician who has been so clearly in the pocket of Big Pharma — and who has been so clearly on the side of profit-taking — than Mike Rogers,” said Longjohn. “Mike Rogers has had his chance over 22 years to demonstrate where his priorities lie, and it is not with Michigan families. He chooses to fight for the pharmaceutical industry’s bottom line every time.”

Morgan added: “Under the Republican tax law Mike Rogers supports, Medicare patients will continue to pay inflated prices. No negotiations, and no relief for Michiganders struggling with high drug prices. Mike Rogers chose to champion the pharmaceutical industry instead of championing patients. He chose to protect corporate profits instead of protecting people who depend on these medications to survive.”

The criticism comes as Democrats mark the anniversary of a major press conference held by Rogers on September 24, 2003, when he promoted legislation aimed at increasing access to opioids. According to Democrats, under current GOP tax policy known as OBBBA, some drugs such as Keytruda—an expensive cancer medication—are delayed or excluded from price negotiations established by the Inflation Reduction Act.

Despite Keytruda costing more than $175,000 per year for patients, Democrats argue that thousands of Medicare recipients are left paying higher costs due to provisions in OBBBA supported by Rogers. They also note that this law resulted in what they describe as a "$5 billion giveaway" to pharmaceutical companies.

Rogers has publicly opposed allowing Medicare drug price negotiations. Last year he described such efforts as "sugar high politics" and expressed strong opposition. In addition, reports indicate that he has received significant campaign contributions from drug manufacturers that advocated for exemptions within OBBBA related to price negotiations.

As a state legislator earlier in his career, Rogers co-sponsored legislation making it more difficult for Michiganders harmed by pharmaceuticals during the opioid epidemic to sue drug companies.