Statement by Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski on SB 1010

It is hugely disappointing that Big Pharma’s avalanche of lobbying led to a bill stripped of meaningful provisions that was ultimately useless in shining a spotlight on drug pricing. However, we won’t be deterred in continuing the fight for this much-needed reform to keep prescription drugs affordable and accessible to Californians.

Every day families across California are paying exorbitant costs for the prescription drugs they need while Pharma executives are raking in millions of dollars through arbitrary and immoral price hikes. Californians clearly want lawmakers to do something to keep prescription drugs affordable. If lawmakers ignore the will of Californians, voters will take matters into their own hands.  In the coming months, the California Labor movement and our coalition partners, ranging from businesses and insurers to health care advocates and consumer groups, will redouble our efforts to enact real reform to control rising prescription drug prices that are hurting us all.

Californians deserve to know why their prescription drug prices are skyrocketing, driving up costs for the entire health care system. We appreciate Sen. Hernandez’ work on this vital issue, and are committed to joining him to ensure transparency in out-of-control prescription drug pricing. 

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The California Labor Federation is made up of more than 1,200 AFL-CIO and Change to Win unions, representing 2.1 million union members in manufacturing, retail, construction, hospitality, public sector, health care, entertainment and other industries