MAGA Gov. Glenn Youngkin has, for a second straight year, vetoed legislation that would establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board.
Youngkin vetoed the measure on Monday, and his office hasn’t yet fessed up to it – we haven’t heard from the PR office yet with a veto statement.
Last year, Youngkin said he was afraid the board would “limit access to treatments and hinder medical innovation,” which, translated, means, hinder the ability of pharmaceutical companies to make money.
This veto will likely kill the legislation for a second straight year. The bill, patroned by Centreville Democrat Karrie Delaney, passed the House of Delegates on a 52-45 vote, and passed the State Senate on a 26-14 vote.
The Senate vote isn’t far off from the two-thirds that would be needed to override the governor’s veto, but the margin in the House is about 15 votes short.
It isn’t getting the support of a hedge-fund multimillionaire governor or enough of the General Assembly, but the prescription drug board has widespread support among Virginia voters – according to a 2023 AARP poll, it has support from 85 percent of Democrats, 71 percent of Republicans, and 70 percent of independents.
“I’m disappointed to see Gov. Youngkin again take the side of big pharmaceutical companies over the people of Virginia,” Delaney said in a statement on Monday. “Prices are up in all areas of the economy, and hardworking Virginia families need relief now. This bill would have taken crucial steps toward lowering the cost of medicine. Instead, Gov. Youngkin caved to Big Pharma’s special interests, which will continue to inflate the price of prescription drugs for Virginians. We must ensure hardworking Virginians get the relief they need, and I hope the next governor will sign bipartisan legislation to lower the cost of medicine.”
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Chris Graham
