Tim Carney sniffs around Congressional lobbying and notices a strange brew. A pharmaceutical company realized that it could make a lot of money if it could extend their patent. So:
Ted Kennedy inserted the language into an upcoming bill, and it’s just passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Congressional Budget Office also estimated that this would increase government spending on health care by $19 million from 2011 to 2018.
Tim, I’m happy that you get material for your column, but it’s disconcerting to find that such topics as these exist.