New Ad Campaign: Rep. Tom Malinowski Fights for New Jersey, Tom Kean Fights for Big Pharma and Health Care Corporations

Malinowski rejects corporate PAC money, passed H.R.3 to lower cost of prescription drugs

Kean has taken nearly $1 million from pharmaceutical, insurance, and health care corporate special interests

End Citizens United (ECU) launched a $165,000 direct mail campaign in New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District that highlights Tom Kean’s history of siding with corporate special interests over New Jersey families. Kean has taken nearly $1 million in contributions from pharmaceutical, insurance, and health care corporate special interests, and opposed measures like lowering the cost of insurance and prescription drugs and protecting coverage for New Jerseyans with pre-existing conditions. The ad campaign is a five-piece mail program that will run through October 23.

“Tom Kean’s loyalties lie with Big Pharma and insurance corporate PACs, and his opposition to lowering the costs of prescription drugs and health care that would save New Jersey families thousands of dollars proves it,” said ECU President Tiffany Muller. “Tom Malinowski went to Washington to fight the corrupt system that has been hurting New Jersey families. From leading the charge to pass the For The People Act (H.R. 1), the most sweeping anti-corruption, voting rights and ethics bill in a generation, to standing up to Big Pharma by passing the Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3), he’s kept his word to his constituents. New Jerseyans can’t trust Tom Kean to work in their best interests because he’s beholden to the corporate interests that bankroll his campaign. Congressman Malinowski rejects corporate PAC money because he’s fighting for New Jersey families, not corporate special interests.”

Unlike Kean, Congressman Tom Malinowski has a real record of working to lower the cost of prescription drugs. He made a promise to stand up to Big Pharma, and that’s exactly what he did when he helped pass the Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R.3). This is a bold, critical bill that would significantly lower the cost of prescription drug prices for millions of New Jerseyans by granting Medicare new powers to negotiate annual prices for the 250 most expensive drugs on the market. It would make the lower drug prices negotiated by Medicare available to Americans with private insurance. It also stops drug companies from ripping off Americans while charging other countries less for the same drugs.

Here’s what that means for the 7th district and the state of New Jersey: 

• Patients with Diabetes: 8.1% of New Jersey residents have diabetes, and H.R. 3 could lower the average total cost of the insulin NovoLOG Flexpen by 76% from about $19,800 to $4,800 per year.

• Patients living with breast cancer: In 2019, it was estimated that 8,340 women in New Jersey would be diagnosed with breast cancer. H.R.3 can lower the average total cost of the breast cancer medication Ibrance by 65% from $69,000 to 23,900 per year.

• Patients living with leukemia: In 2019, it was estimated that 2,070 people in New Jersey would be diagnosed with leukemia. H.R.3 can lower the average total cost of the leukemia medication Tasigna by 71% from $93,700 to $27,400 per year.

• Patients living with prostate cancer: In 2019, it was estimated that 5,710 people in New Jersey would be diagnosed with prostate cancer. H.R.3 can lower the average total cost of the prostate cancer medication Zytiga by 66% from $109,500 to $37,400.

• Patients with arthritis: 20.5% of New Jersey residents have arthritis, and H.R.3 can lower their total costs on most arthritis drugs from about $40,000 to $10,000 per year.

• Patients with asthma: About 8.6% of New Jersey residents live with asthma, and H.R.3 can lower their total costs on most asthma drugs from about $1,400 to $270 per year.

• Patients with HIV/AIDS: In 2015, 1,108 New Jersey residents were diagnosed with HIV, and H.R.3 can lower their total costs on most HIV drugs from about $15,000 to $6,000 per year.

• Dental, Vision, Hearing: H.R.3 would also reinvest nearly half a trillion in savings into expanding Medicare coverage for dental, vision, and hearing services.

  • About 98% of beneficiaries or 125,800 people in NJ-07 stand to gain from adding a dental benefit.

  • About 90% of beneficiaries or 114,700 people in NJ-07 stand to gain from adding a vision benefit.

  • About 96% of beneficiaries or 123,300 people in NJ-07 stand to gain from adding a hearing benefit.

Unlike dark money groups, ECU is entirely transparent and every penny is disclosed with the Federal Election Commission. Unlike Super PACs, ECU adheres to contribution limits and is entirely grassroots-funded with an average contribution of $14.