Thread by @act_on_mass

House is now taking up the important amendment #1057 related to drug prices #MAPoli

Rep. Mariano speaking about the amendment, how it is related to an idea that Gov Baker put in his version of the budget but the original house version did not contain #MAPoli

Rep. Mariano talking about how we need to ensure a cooperative relationship between the state & pharmaceutical manufacturers on drug prices, and that the Baker proposal verged on rate setting #MAPoli

Rep Mariano speaking about insulin going up in price by 3x over the past few years. Referring to "market forces" causing that increase, and hoping for a collaborative relationship with pharmaceutical companies to understand where these "problems" are coming from #MAPoli

Rep Benson getting up to speak also in favor of the amendment #MAPoli

One major change, that Rep Benson just referred to was that #1057 was changed to limit the public release of information related to why drugs cost what they cost

Before and after in the images attached #MAPoli

.@RepJonHecht just voted "Present" on the amendment rather than vote in favor. This is an extremely uncommon move, no reason as of yet given for the vote #MAPoli

Additional changes include removing a public comment period for the commission, analysis of these changes really isn't conducive to twitter, we'll be doing further research and publishing more info on this amendment that look set to pass #MAPoli

For those who want to compare the versions by themselves, see the two versions at:

malegislature.gov/Bills/GetAmend…

.@RepJackLewis & @mariarobinsonMA now voting Present as well. #MAPoli

Amendment passes 152-3 with 3 (Hecht, Robinson, Lewis) voting Present #MAPoli

Nays were @TamiGouveiaMA @MikeConnollyMA and @replizmalia #MAPoli