CONTACT: Steve Smith (510) 326-4644, ssmith@calaborfed.org

Statement from California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski

We commend Governor Brown for signing into law the strongest bill in the country to bring much-needed transparency to prescription drug pricing. Labor unions led the fight for SB 17 because skyrocketing prescription drug costs hurt working people, patients, the chronically ill and cost taxpayers billions of dollars. Lifesaving drugs are not effective if they’re unaffordable. Yet many Californians are forced to choose between the lifesaving drugs they need and putting food on the table for their families. This is not a choice anyone should have to face in this state.

Despite Big Pharma’s well-funded campaign to distort the truth on SB 17, the Legislature approved SB 17 and the governor signed it into law, taking a huge step forward on reducing the cost of prescription drugs. SB 17 isn’t just important for California, it’s a model for the rest of the country. We thank Sen. Hernandez for his continued leadership on this vital issue that impacts all Californians.

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