Friday, April 26 - Subpoena Harlan Crow / Support HB 4548
Actions You Can Take
Action 1: Let Senator Durbin know it’s time to finish the job and subpoena Harlan Crow
Action 2: Ask your legislators to support HB 4548 for enhanced PBM regulations
Action 1: Subpoena Harlan Crow
On April 11, Senator Durbin finally issued a subpoena for one of Clarence Thomas’ right-wing buddies, Leonard Leo. This has been a welcome, but long overdue, next step into investigating corruption on the Supreme Court, since Durbin and the Senate Judiciary voted to authorize the subpoenas for both Leonard Leo and Harlan Crow last November.
But Durbin can’t stop there. He needs to issue the subpoena for Harlan Crow as soon as possible. We know that Harlan Crow has been at the center of several ethical scandals on the court – he’s taken Clarence Thomas on luxury vacations on his private jet and mega-yacht, purchased and renovated Thomas’ mom’s house for her, and paid for private school tuition for one of Thomas’ young relatives.
It’s time we find out how much influence both Leo and Crow have been able to buy.
We’ve already waited long enough – the investigation needs to move forward to ensure accountability on the Supreme Court.
Email Senator Durbin now to thank him for taking the first step by issuing the subpoena for Leo, but let him know you expect him to issue the subpoena for Crow immediately.
Action via Indivisible
Action 2: Support HB 4548
Pharmaceutical industry middlemen known as Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) play a significant role in driving up prescription drug costs and insurance premiums. Despite their influence in the pharmaceutical supply chain, PBMs have continued to operate with little oversight and transparency. PBMs take advantage of that by routinely engaging in practices that increase their profit margin at the expense of consumers, including:
Spread Pricing – When a PBM charges a health benefit plan more than they pay a pharmacy for a prescription drug and pockets the “spread” (or cost difference) as profit.
Consumer Steering – When a PBM “steers” (or directs) a consumer towards an outcome that produces more profit for the PBM at the expense of the consumer, such as by:
Requiring or encouraging a consumer to use a pharmacy that is owned or controlled by the PBM.
Requiring a consumer to pay more or full cost for a prescription if they choose to use a pharmacy that isn’t preferred by the PBM.
Reimbursing a pharmacy an amount less than a PBM reimburses itself or an affiliate.
Skirting Transparency Requirements – The extent to which PBMs engage in these practices is unknown because they try to get around reporting requirements, of which there are too few.
HB4548 would enhance PBM regulations to curb those practices and lower prescription drug costs for Illinois consumers. Email your legistlators to ask them to support HB4548!
Action via Citizen Action IL
While some of these Daily Actions come from our own work as Indivisible Chicago Alliance, others are from our many partners working to advance the progressive agenda. We invite you to join us in supporting their work. Postings from partners do not imply Indivisible Chicago Alliance endorsement of specific policies and positions.