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| California Today: The Drug Industry Has Spent $109 Million to Kill Prop 61. Here’s Why. | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| (Want to get California Today by email? Sign up.) | (Want to get California Today by email? Sign up.) |
| We turn to Andrew Pollack, a former biotechnology reporter for The New York Times, who is based in Los Angeles, for today’s introduction. | We turn to Andrew Pollack, a former biotechnology reporter for The New York Times, who is based in Los Angeles, for today’s introduction. |
| The pharmaceutical industry has contributed $109 million to defeat Proposition 61, the most money raised for or against any of the 17 statewide ballot initiatives this year. | The pharmaceutical industry has contributed $109 million to defeat Proposition 61, the most money raised for or against any of the 17 statewide ballot initiatives this year. |
| The measure, which comes at a time of heightened public concern over drug pricing, would prohibit the state government from paying a higher price for a drug than the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, which gets big mandatory discounts and can negotiate with drug makers for even steeper ones. | The measure, which comes at a time of heightened public concern over drug pricing, would prohibit the state government from paying a higher price for a drug than the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, which gets big mandatory discounts and can negotiate with drug makers for even steeper ones. |
| If approved, Proposition 61 could mean savings for California’s public employees and retirees, its prison system and part of Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program. But the size of savings is unclear, and could range from “relatively little” to “significant,” according to the nonpartisan state legislative analyst. | If approved, Proposition 61 could mean savings for California’s public employees and retirees, its prison system and part of Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program. But the size of savings is unclear, and could range from “relatively little” to “significant,” according to the nonpartisan state legislative analyst. |
| One reason for the uncertainty is whether state agencies will be able to determine what Veterans Affairs pays for certain drugs. Another reason is that pharmaceutical companies might try to offset Proposition 61 by charging higher prices to other customers, including the V.A. Advertisements opposing Proposition 61 that now saturate the airwaves often feature veterans saying the measure would raise prices for them and others. | One reason for the uncertainty is whether state agencies will be able to determine what Veterans Affairs pays for certain drugs. Another reason is that pharmaceutical companies might try to offset Proposition 61 by charging higher prices to other customers, including the V.A. Advertisements opposing Proposition 61 that now saturate the airwaves often feature veterans saying the measure would raise prices for them and others. |
| Still, the drug manufacturers paying for these commercials are probably worried less about the mechanics of Proposition 61 than the precedent its approval would set for more government control of prices. Other states may try similar measures. And Medicaid programs in all states might have to be offered the lower prices paid by California agencies. | Still, the drug manufacturers paying for these commercials are probably worried less about the mechanics of Proposition 61 than the precedent its approval would set for more government control of prices. Other states may try similar measures. And Medicaid programs in all states might have to be offered the lower prices paid by California agencies. |
| Supporters of the initiative say the threat of countervailing price increases is an empty one and that it is time to stand up to the pharmaceutical industry. Almost all of the more than $14.7 million contributed to support the measure comes from its sponsor, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which runs pharmacies and treatment centers for people with H.I.V. | Supporters of the initiative say the threat of countervailing price increases is an empty one and that it is time to stand up to the pharmaceutical industry. Almost all of the more than $14.7 million contributed to support the measure comes from its sponsor, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which runs pharmacies and treatment centers for people with H.I.V. |
| Other supporters include the California Nurses Association and the state branch of AARP. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has held rallies in California to campaign for the measure, which he said would be “a real blow against this greedy industry that will reverberate all over America.” | Other supporters include the California Nurses Association and the state branch of AARP. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has held rallies in California to campaign for the measure, which he said would be “a real blow against this greedy industry that will reverberate all over America.” |
| Despite the pharmaceutical industry war chest, the measure was comfortably ahead in some polls conducted in September. California newspapers generally oppose the measure because of its specifics, while acknowledging the temptation for a protest vote against high drug prices. | Despite the pharmaceutical industry war chest, the measure was comfortably ahead in some polls conducted in September. California newspapers generally oppose the measure because of its specifics, while acknowledging the temptation for a protest vote against high drug prices. |
| Dig into analyses of all 17 statewide measures by the Legislative Analyst’s Office, CALmatters, KQED and Ballotpedia. | Dig into analyses of all 17 statewide measures by the Legislative Analyst’s Office, CALmatters, KQED and Ballotpedia. |
| • New research debunks a long-held belief that one man was responsible for most of the spread of AIDS. [The New York Times] | • New research debunks a long-held belief that one man was responsible for most of the spread of AIDS. [The New York Times] |
| • The Pentagon suspended efforts to force California National Guard soldiers to return improperly paid bonuses. [The New York Times] | • The Pentagon suspended efforts to force California National Guard soldiers to return improperly paid bonuses. [The New York Times] |
| • A man with a sledgehammer and a pickax tried to remove Donald J. Trump’s star on Hollywood Boulevard. [The New York Times] | • A man with a sledgehammer and a pickax tried to remove Donald J. Trump’s star on Hollywood Boulevard. [The New York Times] |
| • San Diego State University got its biggest donation ever — $25 million — from a Padres executive and his wife. [San Diego Union-Tribune] | • San Diego State University got its biggest donation ever — $25 million — from a Padres executive and his wife. [San Diego Union-Tribune] |
| • President Obama brought Silicon Valley to Washington. Is that a good thing? [The New York Times] | • President Obama brought Silicon Valley to Washington. Is that a good thing? [The New York Times] |
| • Tesla surprised investors by reporting its first quarterly profit in three years. [The New York Times] | • Tesla surprised investors by reporting its first quarterly profit in three years. [The New York Times] |
| • Santa Ana will pay $100,000 to settle a lawsuit after a raid on a pot dispensary that was captured on video. [Orange County Register] | • Santa Ana will pay $100,000 to settle a lawsuit after a raid on a pot dispensary that was captured on video. [Orange County Register] |
| • Patton Oswalt’s wife died in April. It’s been a hard climb for him to return to comedy. [The New York Times] | • Patton Oswalt’s wife died in April. It’s been a hard climb for him to return to comedy. [The New York Times] |
| • Warren Beatty’s new film is the first he has written, directed and starred in since “Bulworth,” in 1998. And he’ll talk your ear off about it. [The New York Times] | • Warren Beatty’s new film is the first he has written, directed and starred in since “Bulworth,” in 1998. And he’ll talk your ear off about it. [The New York Times] |
| • The food critic Jonathan Gold released his list of the 101 best restaurants in the Los Angeles area. [Los Angeles Times] | • The food critic Jonathan Gold released his list of the 101 best restaurants in the Los Angeles area. [Los Angeles Times] |
| • The police arrested a suspect in a series of viral videos showing a man taking death-defying leaps from buildings around Orange County. [Orange County Register] | • The police arrested a suspect in a series of viral videos showing a man taking death-defying leaps from buildings around Orange County. [Orange County Register] |
| On Monday, we asked readers to recommend the best places to check out in the Bay Area for a superstar transplant, Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors. | On Monday, we asked readers to recommend the best places to check out in the Bay Area for a superstar transplant, Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors. |
| Ideas poured in, too many to list. But there were a handful of destinations mentioned over and over. | Ideas poured in, too many to list. But there were a handful of destinations mentioned over and over. |
| Eight people wrote in to urge Durant, who likes jazz, to check out the SFJazz Center. | Eight people wrote in to urge Durant, who likes jazz, to check out the SFJazz Center. |
| The $64 million performance space opened in the Hayes Valley neighborhood in 2013, billed as first stand-alone building designed specifically for jazz. It’s been regularly selling out shows. | The $64 million performance space opened in the Hayes Valley neighborhood in 2013, billed as first stand-alone building designed specifically for jazz. It’s been regularly selling out shows. |
| “Miner Auditorium at SFJazz is a truly rare gem,” wrote Karl Hittelman, a reader, “a small, acoustically outstanding venue dedicated to jazz performances.” | “Miner Auditorium at SFJazz is a truly rare gem,” wrote Karl Hittelman, a reader, “a small, acoustically outstanding venue dedicated to jazz performances.” |
| Another popular suggestion: Mount Tamalpais. | Another popular suggestion: Mount Tamalpais. |
| With its 360-degree views of the ocean and bay, the 2,571-foot peak is a beloved getaway less than an hour’s drive north of San Francisco. | With its 360-degree views of the ocean and bay, the 2,571-foot peak is a beloved getaway less than an hour’s drive north of San Francisco. |
| Finally, three restaurants got numerous mentions: Chez Panisse, Zachary’s Chicago Pizza and Bakesale Betty, all three in the East Bay. | Finally, three restaurants got numerous mentions: Chez Panisse, Zachary’s Chicago Pizza and Bakesale Betty, all three in the East Bay. |
| Chez Panisse, which opened in Berkeley in 1971, is where the chef Alice Waters pioneered a brand of new American cooking that relies on fresh, local ingredients. | Chez Panisse, which opened in Berkeley in 1971, is where the chef Alice Waters pioneered a brand of new American cooking that relies on fresh, local ingredients. |
| Zachary’s is another longtime favorite, operating since 1983, with dozens of “best pizza” accolades from local publications for it deep dish pies. It has four locations in the East Bay. | Zachary’s is another longtime favorite, operating since 1983, with dozens of “best pizza” accolades from local publications for it deep dish pies. It has four locations in the East Bay. |
| And several readers raved about Bakesale Betty, in Oakland, where customers line up to eat sandwiches on outdoor ironing boards. | And several readers raved about Bakesale Betty, in Oakland, where customers line up to eat sandwiches on outdoor ironing boards. |
| “The best chicken sandwich. Period,” Patricia Gardner wrote. | “The best chicken sandwich. Period,” Patricia Gardner wrote. |
| We’re waiting to hear which ones become Durant’s favorites, too. | We’re waiting to hear which ones become Durant’s favorites, too. |
| California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. | California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. |
| The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Davis. Follow him on Twitter. | The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Davis. Follow him on Twitter. |
| California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended U.C. Berkeley. | California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended U.C. Berkeley. |