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April 30, 2018JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. |  By: Pinney

Sen. McCaskill takes stand against pharmaceutical companies' influence on Congress

Last week, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill took a strong stance against the influence of pharmaceutical companies in Congress during a hearing for the Senate Finance Committee.

McCaskill, Missouri's senior senator up for re-election this year, says the rising prescription drug costs in the United States are incongruous.

Part of McCaskill's disbelief in the rising drug costs stems from the Republican tax plan signed into law late last year. She says the pharmaceutical industry has received a windfall of $45 million, but that the money they saved isn't going to help people who need it most.

A recent Senate report found that the savings pharmaceutical companies are gaining from the tax plan have been used on stock buyback programs and executive compensation rather than research and development on new life-saving treatment options.