DNC Talkers’ Toplines — July 19, 2022

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

TOP TIDBITS
FROM THE DNC WAR ROOM
MESSAGE TO MOBILIZE
ARTICLES TO AMPLIFY
TOP TWEETS
TALKING POINTS
 

TOP TIDBITS

1. The DNC’s Defend Choice Week of Action wraps up today, as Democrats have and continue to mobilize supporters and engage voters across the country to call out Republicans for opposing abortion rights, highlight what is at stake in November, and organize in all 50 states to elect Democrats up and down the ballot as the backstop to protecting abortion rights.

Digital Ads:
Associated Press: DNC ads warn voters that GOP wants nationwide abortion ban

TV Ads:
NBC News: DNC launches ad highlighting GOP plans for further abortion restrictions
MSNBC: MSNBC: New DNC Ad on GOP's Plans on Abortion Restrictions
Colorado Politics: National Democrats air Colorado TV ad ripping Republicans for 'celebrating' Roe's demise
My Fox 8: Democrats launch North Carolina TV ads to attack Republicans’ comments on abortion
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The Jolt
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Thursday Coffee
UpNorthNews: Want to Fight for Abortion Rights? Here’s One Way to Get Involved.

In-state events:

Georgia:
13WMAZ: Georgia Democrats urge voters to choose candidates who will protect abortion access
41NBC: Georgia Democrats concerned for women’s rights following Roe v. Wade overturn
WGXA: Middle Georgia Democrats speak out on abortion access as elections loom
Macon Telegraph: Middle Georgia Democrats speak out regarding Georgia's abortion law
 
Florida:
WSVN: Democrats Rally for Reproductive Rights, Call Out DeSantis
WFOR: Democrats Demand Abortion Response from Governor DeSantis
WTVJ: Florida Democrats Challenge DeSantis, Demand Answers on Reproductive Rights
WFLX: Democrats Launch “DeSantis Owes Us Answers” Tour
Telemundo Miami: Protestan Fallo De La Corte Suprema Sobre Aborto
 
Michigan:
ABC Grand Rapids: MI Democrats host “Defend Choice” Rally 
The Gander: Michigan Democrats Host “Defend Choice” Week of Action, DNC Launches New TV Ad in Michigan
 
North Carolina:
ABC 11: North Carolina Democrats Say Reproductive Rights are on the Line
 
Pennsylvania:
CBS21: Reproductive Rights Are On The Line In This Next Election
KYW Radio: PA Dems Defend Choice Week of Action Press Call
 
Wisconsin:
WISN: Governor's Race | Abortion Rights
NBC Madison: Gov. Evers Attends 'Defend Choice' Event
WORT: State Dems Mobilize Voters After The Fall Of Roe 
The Cap Times: Evers, Kleefisch spar over abortion restrictions in Wisconsin
ABC Madison: Evers is a Firewall for Abortion Rights
CBS Milwaukee: Evers Slams GOP Over Abortion Policies

2. Today, the White House COVID-19 Team is announcing its strategy to manage BA.5. The strategy relies on ensuring that Americans continue to have easy and convenient access to the vaccines, treatments, tests, and other tools that protect against and treat COVID-19. These tools – even in the face of BA.5 – work to prevent serious illness, keep people out of the hospital, and save lives – and we can prevent nearly all COVID-19 deaths with them.

FROM THE DNC WAR ROOM

MAGA Hot Mic: Idaho GOP Pushes Abortion Ban With No Exceptions for Mother’s Life 

DNC: McConnell Promises to Oppose Lower Drug Costs For Americans 

@DNCWarRoom: .@LeaderMcConnell just said he would oppose efforts to lower prescription drug prices for millions of Americans. McConnell has made clear that he would rather side with Big Pharma than lower costs for the American people.

@DNCWarRoom: Abortion is reproductive health care, and we will not let Republicans run from their record. Democrats will ensure voters know what’s at stake for reproductive health care in November.
 

MESSAGE TO MOBILIZE

Please amplify some of our top content from DNC channels below:

Pass it on: Senate Republicans are holding a bill hostage that would bring manufacturing jobs back from China and lower your costs by strengthening supply chains. @TheDemocrats (Twitter), (Facebook)

Every single House Republican voted against a bill that would fight gas price gouging. @TheDemocrats (Twitter)

Grateful for Vice President @KamalaHarris' leadership in working with state legislators to defend abortion access and fighting for the rights of the American people. 
@TheDemocrats (Twitter), (Facebook)

A majority of House Republicans voted against a bill to cap insulin prices. Every House Republican voted against a bill to combat price gouging to help lower gas prices. Republicans have voted against measures designed to bring down costs for America’s working families. @TheDemocrats (Twitter)

Want to help amplify the DNC’s message online? Join the DNC’s Greenfly to start receiving daily content updates and access to social media resources. Click  here to download the app and use code: DEMSTALKERS at sign up.

Please note that individuals working for independent expenditures or Democratic primary campaign candidates are ineligible to join the DNC’s Greenfly.
 

ARTICLES TO AMPLIFY

CNN: More US stations are selling gas for less than $4 a gallon 

TOP TWEETS

@POTUS: Although COVID-19 is no longer the disruptive force it once was, we are ready to meet the moment as BA.5 cases rise. We have the tools to protect people from this subvariant. But we have to work together: If you're eligible, get boosted.

@POTUS: Gas prices have been dropping for 34 days straight, about 50 cents a gallon. That saves the average driver about $25 a month. I know those extra dollars and cents mean something. It's breathing room. And we're not done working to get prices even lower.

@VP: The Dobbs decision puts other Constitutional rights at risk: marriage equality, access to contraception, and the right to privacy. We must build coalitions with leaders in every state and on every level to fight back.

@VP: Every woman in America should be free to make decisions about her body and her life with her doctor, her loved ones, and her faith leader. The government should not tell her what to do.
 

TALKING POINTS

1. Big Pharma Drops Over $100 Million Fighting Prescription Drug Price Negotiation

• It appears Congress is now on the verge of passing historic legislation that will drive down health care costs and level the playing field for working families. A core piece of this legislation is lowering prescription drug prices. As it stands, Americans pay three times more for prescription drugs than people in other countries, forcing millions to choose between affording their medications and paying for essentials like food or rent. With this legislation, Medicare will finally have the power to negotiate for lower drug prices and all Americans will be protected against outrageous and arbitrary price increases.
   

• However, Big Pharma is not going down without a fight. Big drug companies are spending millions on lobbying and advertisements to block any reform that brings down drug prices at the expense of their sky-high profits. With the help of their Republican allies, drug companies have been relentless in their efforts to spread lies about the Democrats’ plan to lower drug prices for families. Fortunately, the American people remain unswayed, with poll after poll showing that policies to reduce drug costs are the most popular provisions among voters. With support from Americans of all parties, President Biden and Democrats in Congress are committed to reining in Big Pharma’s greed and delivering real relief to millions of families.
   

• The Pharmaceutical Industry Has Spent More Than $100 Million On Lobbying In 2022. According to OpenSecrets, the pharmaceutical industry has already spent $101 million lobbying on behalf of 483 clients in 2022, fighting Democratic efforts to rein in prescription drug costs. That is double the amount of the next largest industry.
   

• PhRMA Cannot Be Trusted With Drug Pricing Reform. Leading the charge on pharmaceutical industry’s spending on lobbying is PhRMA, the group representing the nation’s leading biopharmaceutical companies. To date, PhRMA has spent $8.2 million Americans see through the fear tactics used by pharma industry trade groups, with more than 80 percent of Americans reporting they want congressional action to check pharma’s greed and lower prescription drug prices.
   

• Pharmaceutical Companies Spending The Most To Fight Prescription Drug Negotiations:
   

• AbbVie. AbbVie has already spent nearly $4 million lobbying in 2022. AbbVie’s blockbuster immunosuppressive drug, Humira, already plays an outsized role in American health care spending as one of the nation’s highest revenue generating drugs, raking in $4.6 billion in the third-quarter of 2021 alone. AbbVie, which has hiked the price of Humira more than two dozen times and at rates far outpacing inflation.
   

• Pfizer. A 2019 analysis found a majority of top-selling drugs from Pfizer were discovered and developed by third parties, such as universities and academic centers. These findings suggest that “a reduction in pharmaceutical revenues would not have the supposed devastating impact on the level of biopharmaceutical innovation.” This did not stop Pfizer from spending a whopping $2.7 million lobbying in 2022.
   

• Johnson & Johnson. Despite receiving more than $1 billion in federal funding to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, Johnson & Johnson has spent $2.3 million dollars lobbying Congress this year alone – attempting to continue exploiting the lack of Medicare drug price negotiation. Johnson & Johnson saw nearly $21 billion in net earnings in 2021.
   

• Additional Drug Makers Dropping Record Sums Lobbying: Amgen: $2.78 million, Gilead Sciences: $2.62 million, Bristol-Myers Squibb: $2.3 million, Merck: $2.12 million, Sanofi: $1.87 million, Eli Lilly: $1.68 million, AstraZeneca: $1.66 million.

1. MAGA Republicans Block Plans to Lower Costs for Americans

• At a time when Americans need help, MAGA Republicans are standing in the way of President Biden and Democrats’ plans to lower costs for Americans. 

• Every single Republican voted against the American Rescue Plan last March which was critical to lowering health care costs, boosted ACA subsidies, and helped get millions of Americans back to work.

• Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans are currently holding hostage legislation that will bring manufacturing jobs back from China and strengthen supply chains.

• Every single Republican voted against holding oil and gas companies accountable from price gouging, as these companies rake in historic profits at the expense of struggling families.

• Republicans like Chuck Grassley have admitted the best chance to deliver on lowering prescription drug prices is with Democrats in power because Republicans are simply not interested in helping American families.

• On top of that, Republicans have promised that if they regain power they could try to RAISE costs on families by cutting Social Security and Medicare while making Trump’s tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy PERMANENT.
   

• Make no mistake about it – while Democrats are working to lower costs, Republicans are actively cheering rising costs on struggling families as a political “gold mine.”