Health Care

Asked About Charge Of Meddling, Gibbs Says FDA Drug Imports Stand Hasn't Changed

Justin Elliott | December 22, 2009, 1:32PM

Robert Gibbs and Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND)

Asked about a Dem senator's accusation that the White House pressured the FDA to send a letter that helped kill a drug importation measure, Robert Gibbs did not directly address the charge, but maintained that the FDA has had safety concerns for years.

After his drug imports amendment was defeated last week, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) asserted that an FDA letter raising safety concerns about the measure may have originated in the White House.

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Frontier Foundation

Rep. Buyer Flounders In CBS Interview About His Iffy Foundation

Justin Elliott | November 12, 2009, 8:50AM

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) on CBS Evening News, aired 11/11/09

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) sat down for an interview with CBS Evening News about his charity, but struggled to answer basic questions about the Frontier Foundation, which collects big donations from industry sources trying to influence Buyer but gives out no money for its putative mission of supporting Indiana students.

Buyer abruptly ended the interview with CBS, which aired last night, literally rushing out of his seat to make a meeting.

Among the questions he couldn't answer: why the foundation, which as recently as last month shared space with Buyer's campaign office in Monticello, Indiana, no longer has a physical address

"I was so focused on making sure that we were legal, that I probably didn't pay as close attention as I should have on, quote, appearances," the congressman said.

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Steve Buyer

Tonight: CBS Interviews Rep. Buyer On Iffy Foundation

Justin Elliott | November 11, 2009, 9:34AM

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN)

CBS Evening News is set to run a segment looking at the questionable foundation of Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN), and they've got a sit-down interview with the man himself.

Last night, CBS ran a promo of the "Follow the Money" segment with reporter Sharyl Attkisson interviewing a tense-looking Buyer. She asks, "What happened to the $25,000?"

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Steve Buyer

PhRMA Gave Big To GOP Rep's Iffy Foundation, Hired His Son, Kept On Giving

Justin Elliott | October 28, 2009, 6:42PM

Ryan Buyer and his father, Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN)

Drug industry umbrella group PhRMA, which has given $200,000 to given Rep. Steve Buyer's Frontier Foundation, in June 2008 hired a director of the foundation as its federal affairs manager, TPMmuckraker has confirmed.

The name of that director? Ryan Buyer, son of the Indiana congressman.

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