Bugs Bunny posed his famous query to the likes of Elmer Fudd and Wile E. Coyote. The iconic rabbit ruffled the feathers of his antagonists with one simple quip: “What’s Up, Doc?”
As Iowa’s senior U.S. Senator, I work tirelessly to represent the interests of my home state and hold the people’s government accountable to the taxpaying public. As presidential candidates soon come to learn, Iowans are an uncommonly shrewd lot with a tenacious knack for pinning down answers to their questions. I’m proud to bring this trait with me to Washington. I like to use my congressional curiosity to displace bureaucratic nonsense with Midwestern common sense.
Fulfilling my congressional oversight responsibilities to investigate and expose fraud, waste and abuse has certainly ruffled countless feathers within and outside the federal
My scrutiny of the FBI and FDA has shown things go wrong when people go along just to get along. The best remedy I’ve found to solve incompetence, wrongdoing and unscrupulous behavior is by letting the light of day sanitize the situation.
That’s why I champion transparency and openness in government, including my long-standing work to encourage whistle-blowers within the public and private sectors to step forward with information that would protect taxpayers, investors, consumers and workers from wrongdoing.
As the taxpayers’ watchdog, I don’t take lightly to scams or schemes designed to bilk the U.S. Treasury. From federal farm payments to Medicare Rx dollars, I use my legislative and oversight authority to ensure tax dollars are spent as intended.
My efforts to promote transparency and good governance extend beyond the federal government. From my leadership position on the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, I’ve also analyzed tax-exempt organizations under my oversight microscope to ensure the tax-exempt community is held accountable for the advantages it receives under the federal tax code.
Just ask the American Red Cross. My work to build accountability and modernize its management structure began in 2001 after a stream of contributions was donated to help 9/11 victims and their families. To the bewilderment of donors, the Red Cross banked some of the hard-earned donations contrary to the intentions of its contributors. It became apparent a disconnect existed between the hierarchy running the do-good organization and its congressionally chartered, tax-exempt mission to perform good works. The reform legislation I steered through Congress earlier this year is designed to strengthen the covenant between the taxpaying public, charitable contributors and leadership at the American Red Cross. For generations, communities across the country have come to depend on the emergency and humanitarian relief services orchestrated by its army of volunteers. Donors and taxpayers deserve to know their money is being put to good use to serve the greater public good.
Sleuthing for answers, whether within the federal bureaucracy, nonprofit community or big business, exasperates plenty of those who wish I’d channel my oversight watch elsewhere. Others embrace it as an opportunity to do better.
Recently I’ve set my sights on the marketing practices of Big Pharma and the possible connection expensive dinners, gifts, speaking fees and trips may have on the prescribing habits of doctors.
I’m not suggesting doctors are wrongfully ordering medications or medical devices for their patients. But I do think daylight will shed important information about the pharmaceutical industry and how its marketing tactics influence what medicines are being prescribed in doctor’s office across the country.
My bipartisan Physician Payments Sunshine Act is pro-consumer and pro-taxpayer. It would require pharmaceutical companies to report the amount of money they give to doctors through payments, gifts, honoraria, travel and other means. It is reasonable for consumers to know what may or may not influence what the doctor ordered. The industry says it has nothing to hide. Therefore, full, public disclosure shouldn’t do any harm. In fact, it ought to advance the public good.
Considering the federal government spends $$ tax dollars annually on prescription medicines, medical devices and biologics, unveiling the marketing methods that factor into the prices of these products is legitimate oversight and public service.
Bugs Bunny’s catchphrase has a point after all. Patients and taxpayers have a right to know. What’s up, Doc?