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

Statement from California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski

By passing SB 17 on a bipartisan vote today, the California Assembly is on the right side of history. Californians are fed up with skyrocketing prescription drug costs that squeeze working people, seniors and those with disabilities. No one should ever have to choose between paying rent and affording lifesaving drugs. Yet that’s the choice far too many Californians face on a daily basis.

Despite Big Pharma’s well-funded campaign to distort the truth on SB 17, the legislature chose to side with California families, taking a huge step forward on reducing the cost of prescription drugs. We commend the legislature for taking bold action to introduce much-needed transparency into drug pricing. SB 17 isn’t just important for California, it’s a model for the rest of the country. We thank Sen. Hernandez for his leadership on this issue and look forward to Gov. Brown signing this critical measure into law.

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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