Wisconsin Watch, a nonprofit newsroom, is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Sign up for our newsletter for more stories straight to your inbox.
Yes.
Wisconsin U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said, “I’ve always been a big supporter of big pharma … I’m all for the profit motive, the development of new drugs.” The statement made on the Vicki McKenna show in October 2021 was in the context of Johnson’s ongoing support of major pharmaceutical corporations — despite his critique of manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines.
Johnson has said he supports “big pharma” on several occasions. On another radio show, he mentioned his reluctance to allow Medicare to negotiate the cost of certain prescription drugs included in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Johnson said the measure would “start punishing the pharmaceutical industry” and discourage “life-saving drugs.”
So far in the 2021–22 election cycle, the health sector, which includes pharmaceutical and health product companies, health care professionals and hospitals, contributed $627,451 to Johnson and $822,594 to his Democratic challenger Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.
Sources
iHeart: Ron Johnson on the Vicki McKenna Show, October 22, 2021 — 1:41:36
WisPolitics: List of quotes from Ron Johnson discussing his support of pharmaceutical corporations
SoundCloud: Ron Johnson worries about ‘punishing’ big pharma on the Brian Kilmeade Show
Open Secrets: Wisconsin Senate 2022 race: Sector totals
Open Secrets: Health lobbying profile