September 17, 2020/Media, Press

NEW: Tillis Raked In Pharmaceutical Money After Sponsoring Industry Friendly Bill

Campaign finance expert: Tillis is viewed as “a very dependable vote in favor of their interest and somebody who, clearly, is willing to champion their legislation, their legislative agenda.”

“WBTV made multiple requests to ask Tillis questions on-camera for this story; all of them were denied.”

Senator Tillis raked in more than $20,000 in contributions from political action committees tied to pharmaceutical companies two weeks after sponsoring an industry friendly bill that omitted a key provision opposed by the pharmaceutical industry found in a separate bipartisan drug pricing bill, according to a new investigation from WBTV.

The amount and timing of the contributions are “unusual,” according to one campaign finance expert, who said that Tillis is “viewed as a very close ally” of Big Pharma and whom the industry views “as a very dependable vote in favor of their interest and somebody who, clearly, is willing to champion their legislation, their legislative agenda.” The expert added that the timing of the donations from the pharmaceutical industry and Tillis’ actions “may indicate a cordial relationship they’ve developed over a period of time.”

Senator Tillis denied “multiple requests” to answer for his close ties to the pharmaceutical industry and pattern of donations, and a spokesman “did not respond to a request for comment.” Senator Tillis previously received more donations from PACs tied to drug manufacturers “than any other member of Congress”  in 2019.

“Senator Tillis is bought and paid for by Big Pharma, doing their bidding in Washington while sticking North Carolinians with higher drug prices,” NCDP spokesperson Robert Howard said. “Rather than lowering the cost of prescription drugs for North Carolinians, Senator Tillis is working to keep prices high while raking in campaign cash from the drug industry.”