Senate Republicans have sparked a fierce backlash for voting against proposed legislation that would have capped the price of life-saving insulin at $35 that was included in The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
In the bill, Democrats proposed to include people not covered by Medicare by capping the price of insulin. But Republicans shot down the insulin cap for other private patients.
The measure in the legislation received 57-43 votes after just seven Republicans joined the Democrats in voting for it and fell just three votes short of becoming the law.
The move, which was big pharmaceutical companies, left people angry who lashed out at Republicans, describing them as “sales representatives of pharmaceutical companies” and calling it “unconscionable” that poor people might even lose their life if they are unable to afford insulin. Others described their actions as “sickening.”
“The members of Congress who voted against lowering/protections on the price of insulin are not representatives of the American people, they are sales reps for pharmaceutical companies,” Arizona Democrat Michael Muscato aid on Twitter.
Senator Scott Weiner said his father relies on insulin to stay alive and asked how many people have to die from “insulin rationing” before a price capping is passed.
“It’s sickening to me that almost every single GOP Senator — even those with family members who rely on insulin — voted against capping its price. How many people have to die from insulin rationing before they stop blocking action?” he said.
Check other reactions below:
Fixing this obscene insulin price disparity in the United Stares is what GOP Senators just blocked.
Look at that price difference. https://t.co/e1i1tCayxG
— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) August 8, 2022
Having Americans die because they can't afford insulin is a sin. Shame on all who voted against capping the price. F them forever.
— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) August 7, 2022
It's absolutely despicable. How do these people sleep at night.
— CountDMonet (@CountDMonet) August 7, 2022
An even more disturbing question is WHY there is such a big demand for insulin in US? Why no one is talking about the main causes of diabetes, sugar, and corporations that stuff sugar in all the foods that we must buy to survive? If you think about it, you can only call them evil
— Bogdan Oliver (@Bogdan__Oliver) August 8, 2022
Yes! All those Republicans who voted against an insulin cap have blood on their hands, and God sees all. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the cost of insulin for patients with insurance ranges from $334 to $1,000 a month.
— Sky Watcher🇺🇸🇺🇦🌻 (@Fideli7a) August 8, 2022
It is also disgusting that it's $12 in Canada, when Banting and Best insisted it be freely available everywhere.
— A Dave you know you know (@NotJustDave) August 8, 2022
And to be clear, these are the people who voted against the cap. pic.twitter.com/loJiY9Lc6V
— Deb G ☮️ (@IBDeb2) August 7, 2022
Who needs a conscience or morality when you have pharmaceutical industry bribes?
— Mephisto's Trapezoid (@joe_c_giles) August 7, 2022
Shame on you Republicans for blocking insulin price disparity bill. Time to vote for Democrats who support all Americans 💙💙💙#VoteBlue2022
— Teresa Obrien (@TeresaO46477682) August 8, 2022
