Sanders Blocks Obama's Pick for FDA (Playing Politics With The FDA)

[KittyWampus]

Califf has been a deputy commissioner at the FDA since February.

Sanders offers no proof against Califf. Just demagoguery.

Note- he also apparently shares Markey's "concerns" about opioid use.


Sanders Becomes 3rd Senator to Block Obama's Pick for FDA

Source: AP/MSN

WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is blocking President Barack Obama's nominee to head the Food and Drug Administration, the third senator to do so.

The Vermont independent said in a statement Tuesday that Dr. Robert Califf's ties to the pharmaceutical industry are too strong. Califf was a cardiologist and medical researcher at Duke University for more than 30 years.

Democratic Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts said Monday he had placed a hold on the nomination because the agency has not been tough enough on the abuse of opioid painkillers.

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska also placed a hold due to concerns about the FDA's approval of genetically engineered salmon.

Margaret Hamburg left the job early last year. Dr. Stephen Ostroff is serving as acting head of the agency.

Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/sanders-becomes-3rd-senator-to-block-obamas-pick-for-fda/ar-BBoIXxP?ocid=spartandhp


Sanders places hold on Obama's FDA nominee


"Dr. [Robert] Califf’s extensive ties to the pharmaceutical industry give me no reason to believe that he would make the FDA work for ordinary Americans, rather than just the CEOs of pharmaceutical companies,” Sanders, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, said Tuesday.

He added that he's placed a hold on Califf's nomination because "we need a leader at the FDA who is prepared to stand up to drug companies."

Sander's announcement comes a day after Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said that he would block Califf's nomination until the agency changes its approval process for opioid painkillers.

The Vermont senator noted that he shares Markey's concerns and that the FDA "must change the way it approaches addiction" because "too many Americans are dying from what has become an opioid epidemic."

Sanders said late last year that he wouldn't support Obama's FDA nominee, suggesting Califf would be loyal to pharamacutical companies. The industry has been a frequent target of Sanders' presidential campaign.

He also voted against Califf's nomination earlier this month during a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Despite some pushback from the left, the committee advanced Califf's nomination, with top lawmakers in both parties supporting him.

Sanders said Tuesday that the next FDA chief must work to lower drug prices, move forward with rules to "safely import brand-name drugs from Canada and hold companies accountable who defraud our government."

Califf, a cardiologist and longtime Duke University researcher, has been a deputy commissioner at the FDA since February. He was nominated by Obama to be the agency's next commissioner in September.

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/267020-sanders-places-hold-on-obamas-fda-nominee

[Skwmom]

1. This is a GREAT can of worms to open. n/t

[KittyWampus]

3. There's a way to open worm-cans without being a demagogue and falsely accusing a nominee

without evidence.

[Broward]

5. How do you know he's falsely accusing?

[Skwmom]

6. Just put the FACTS before the American public and let them decide. n/t

[cali]

14. So that's what Markey, who initiated the hold is? A demagogue?

And you must be ever so familiar with this candidate to know with such patented Kitty vehemence, that the accusations are false.

[beam me up scottie]

20. No evidence? It's a fact he was funded by the industry:

Dr. Califf, 64, is a cardiologist and clinical trial expert from Duke University who has been a consultant to drug companies and ran a research institute that received a majority of its funding from the industry.

http://nytimes.com/2015/11/18/health/robert-califf-fda-nomination.html?referer=

Expain why we shouldn't be concerned about a conflict of interest.

[NurseJackie]

2. Charming.

[beam me up scottie]

4. So?

Bernie's reasons are valid, Cardiff has ties to the pharmaceutical industry that go back years, Elizabeth Warren questioned him too:

Robert Califf, F.D.A. Nominee, Queried on Industry Ties

Dr. Califf, 64, is a cardiologist and clinical trial expert from Duke University who has been a consultant to drug companies and ran a research institute that received a majority of its funding from the industry. Such ties have raised concerns among some public health groups and some Democrats that he is too close to the industry he is being called on to regulate. Many medical experts dispute that, saying that industry is a principal funder of research in the United States and that working with companies does not present an inherent conflict.

Dr. Califf said as much during his two-hour hearing. The session, before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, was largely friendly, but was ]punctuated with skeptical questions from Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, and Bernie Sanders, independent of Vermont, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination.

“It’s no secret that during your time at Duke, you received significant compensation” from the drug industry, Ms. Warren said. “It naturally raises questions about your relationships with the drug industry.”

Dr. Califf responded that the central repository of data for any given trial “is the really critical factor here. All of our contracts require that we have access to the database. Seventy percent of the studies we wanted to do we couldn’t because companies were unwilling to grant that right. We had to walk away.”

http://nytimes.com/2015/11/18/health/robert-califf-fda-nomination.html?referer=

[uponit7771]

7. Sanders doesn't see how he can be part of the problem, guy lives in a thick bubble

[NCTraveler]

8. K&R. nt.

[Avalux]

17. You don't even understand what you're K&Ring. Do a little research. n/t

[MrMickeysMom]

9. We don't need more big pharma...

Someone who is controlled by them is no better.

[Autumn]

10. Along with Sen. Edward Markey. This is how it works

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. The thread title is a bit disingenuous, since Markey initiated the block

and Sanders is not the first but the third senator to vote to block the nomination. The reason these senators are opposed to this appointment is this nominee's ties to the pharmaceutical industry, and Markey and Sanders are both concerned that he would not adequately defend the interests of consumers vs. the interests of drug companies. Sanders is doing his job as senator, once again trying to advance the needs of the people vs. the corporations.

[ViseGrip]

12. He's blocking the support of Monsanto to write our fool laws! Bernie promises to uphold organic

farming!
Sorry, Obama has been very wrong on this issue.

Hillary? She has a Monsanto guy on her campaign payroll! She has given a speech on Monsanto, and said they need to do a better job selling those GMO's cuz they're good! So ignore all the things that you don't like, cuz Hillary is not there for you.

Just look at our FDA? Gutted...Monsanto blocking state bills for labeling....gads. Bernie knows exactly why he's blocking this.
**********************************
Monsanto connections motivate Iowans to drop support for Hillary Clinton

and....

Hillary Clinton vs. Bernie Sanders - different sides on Monsanto & GMO food labeling - 93% of Americans want food labeling. So why is this Hillary?

[jeff47]

13. Uh...the guy's been paid a giant pile for "consulting" with drug companies

Also, at Duke, he ran a research facility that got 60% of its funding from drug companies, and his salary as a professor was supported by drug companies.

What more proof would you like?

[beam me up scottie]

15. Why must you keep bringing up those pesky facts?

We should just trust those who make their living from industries with powerful lobbies and a huge amount of influence in Washington.

[Avalux]

16. Did you bother to look into Califf's history before posting this?

You are so eager to show Sanders as an obstructionist, I am wondering if you understand what's at stake here. Califf has made a living off of clinical trials, with over 60% of his funding from big pharma. The FDA is a regulatory agency designed to make decisions on behalf of the populace when big pharma wants to experiment on them. The person in charge must be a safety advocate - not someone in bed with big pharma.

[libdem4life]

18. Well, Obama just did "endorse" Hillary Clinton...in a dog whistle sort of way.

Of course, he's now Establishment as they come. He learned his lesson, well.Knee

Maybe Sanders can find a better candidate. What does "playing politics" mean? What are they all doing? Or is that in contrast to the "right politics".

Knee Jerk Terms slung out just get stuck in my craw. From it's usage I would venture a guess that it means something that some politician I don't like is doing. But I could be wrong...it may have some hidden meaning, but if we're going to use it, let's know what it means.

[beam me up scottie]

19. Perhaps you can explain why he's wrong?

Surely you've researched this issue and can explain why Cardiff's ties to the industry won't be a conflict of interest.