Back in October, our blog exposed the long running relationship between GOP Senate candidate Ed Bryant and John Gregory/King Pharmaceuticals.Today, Gregory and King Pharmaceuticals are back in the headlines.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that "King Pharmaceuticals would pay Tennessee's Medicaid program $5.3 million in reimbursements and penalties for drug over charges over nine years, according to the tentative settlement released today. Of the total from the Bristol, Tenn., company, the state would receive $1.9 million and the federal government the rest, said Sharon Curtis-Flair of the state Attorney General's Office. Half of the total is a penalty, and the remainder is restitution, she said."
In response to this news, Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Bob Tuke had some harsh words for those accept donations from Gregory/King Pharmaceuticals.
Tuke said, "the GOP should return the funds in light of King's admission of overcharging for drugs. If the GOP accepts more money from Gregory, it's "dirty money" and "the voters are going to hear about it."
As we have noted, no public servant in Tennessee has a closer connection to John Gregory and King Pharmaceuticals than U.S. Senate candidate Ed Bryant. Besides the contributions (see list below), Bryant acted as Gregory's attorney in the hearings before the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance.
- GREGORY, JOHN BRISTOL ,TN 37620 KING PHARMACEUTICALS 4/5/2005 $2,100
- GREGORY, JOHN M BRISTOL, TN 37620 KING PHARMACEUTICALS 4/24/2002 $2,000
- GREGORY, JOHN M BRISTOL, TN 37620 KING PHARMACEUTICALS 5/6/2002 $1,000
- GREGORY, JOSEPH PINEY FLATS, TN 37686 KING PHARMACEUTICALS 6/30/2005 $2,100
- GREGORY, JOSEPH PINEY FLATS, TN 37686 8/29/2002 $1,000
- GREGORY, JOSEPH RPINEY FLATS, TN 37686 KING PHARMACEUTICALS 5/1/2002 $1,000
- GREGORY, JOSEPH R PINEY FLATS, TN 37686 KING PHARMACEUTICALS 5/1/2002 $1,000
- GREGORY, LUCINDAPINEY FLATS,TN 37686 6/30/2005 $2,100
In light of this news about overcharging by King Pharmaceuticals and their very close connection to Ed Bryant, I think some serious questions must be asked and the record cleared.
While in Congress did Ed Bryant ever help them in any way? Did he meet with Gregory/King Pharmaceuticals ever to talk about legislation pending in Congress that could have an effect on Tennessee's Medicaid program?
Ed Bryant has said he came to Gregory's defense in front of Tennessee Registry of Election Finance because he believed Gregory was being accused of something he did not do. Coming to the defense of a friend you feel is being wrongly accused is admirable.
But now that we know King Pharmaceuticals has overcharged for drugs, it becomes more serious on a different level and that is the issue here.
We await Ed Bryant's answers on these serious questions.
