The Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee has voted against a bill to impose fines on generic drug manufacturers engaged in price gouging, due to concerns about protracted litigation.
Democrats on the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee were divided over the “excessive pricing” bill, despite assurances from Maine’s attorney general that his office would defend it in court.
The pharmaceutical industry has successfully challenged similar laws that passed in other states.
The bill, submitted by Senate President Troy Jackson and a similar price-gouging bill both were voted down along party lines. Both will be voted on by the full Legislature.
Megan Diver
Megan has worked in Maine politics for more than ten years and all of her professional career, having served in many roles for elected officials (including former Secretary of State Charlie Summers), in-house with the Maine Association of REALTORS®, legislative specialist at Pierce Atwood LLP providing lobbying services and support to Pierce Atwood’s government relations clients and most recently senior government relations specialist at the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. Megan currently is the Vice President at the Maine Energy Marketers Association, utilizing her vast knowledge and legislative experience at the State House to represent MEMA on policies relating to the Association and its members.