Nancy Pelosi, Kyrsten Sinema discuss prescription drug prices

Congressional Democrats are still in the midst of negotiations as both chambers have yet to pass two infrastructure bills that make up US President Joe Biden’s economic agenda. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke with one of the two Democratic holdouts of the bills, senator Kyrsten Sinema, regarding the prescription drug pricing provisions.

CNN reports that Pelosi spoke with Sinema discussed the issue of prescription drug pricing over the weekend. This comes as Democrats in both chambers look to pass not just the bipartisan infrastructure bill but also the social spending bill that would have provisions for climate change, care for children and families, as well as healthcare. Sinema and West Virginia senator Joe Manchin, along with unanimous Republican opposition, pose a challenge in the slim majorities of the Democratic party.

Progressive Senator Bernie Sanders said Sunday that he was working on a provision to include in the Democratic-led social infrastructure bill to lower prices of prescription drugs. Sinema has opposed reducing prescription drug prices.

The proposal that would allow for lower prescription drug prices was not included in the social infrastructure bill.

Pelosi and most of the Congressional Democrats remain determined to pass both bills together. Progressive Democrats have previously warned that they would oppose the bipartisan infrastructure bill if the social spending bill is not passed along with it. The bipartisan bill awaits a House vote after having already passed the Senate.

Bloomberg reports that Pelosi plans to move forward with a House vote this week on both bills despite Manchin’s criticisms of not knowing the full cost and economic impact. None of the key Democrats whose votes are needed to pass the bill have threatened to block the passage of the proposal. Pelosi also looks to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill before she leaves for Glasgow along with other members of Congress that make up the US congressional delegation at the COP26 climate change summit.

“We’re on course to pass our bill,” Pelosi said Monday night regarding the social infrastructure bill.

Rules Committee chair Rep. Jim McGovern said his committee would likely be meeting Wednesday to discuss the parameters of the floor debate on the tax and social spending bill.