Drug price controls sound good until you’re the cancer patient they leave behind | Opinion

When policymakers talk about “drug price controls,” it’s often framed as a commonsense solution to rising health care costs. I understand that impulse. As a former Pennsylvania legislator, and, as a breast cancer survivor, I know firsthand how stressful and expensive serious illness can be.

But good intentions don’t guarantee good outcomes. Proposals like “Most Favored Nation” (MFN) drug pricing may sound simple, but for cancer patients, they carry serious risks that deserve closer scrutiny.

Read more: Drug price controls sound good until you’re the cancer patient they leave behind | Opinion

Louisiana Leads the Nation on 5th Annual St. Joseph the Worker Day as Wisconsin Joins

Baton Rouge, Louisiana – Louisiana is leading the nation in recognizing the everyday heroes who power American families and communities. A bold new billboard, erected in preparation for the 5th Annual St. Joseph the Worker Day, is now up along highly visible Interstate 10, between Lafayette and Baton Rouge. This stretch carries an estimated 70,000+ vehicles per day and serves as a major freight corridor supporting high-volume commerce, tourism, and regional connectivity across the state. The billboard stands as a prominent reminder of Louisiana’s statewide May 1st “Thank a Worker” day.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said:

“Louisiana is leading the nation in recognizing the dignity and importance of work by establishing St. Joseph the Worker Day on May 1st of each year. America was built on the backs of hardworking men and women, and we ought to be celebrating their vital contributions. I’m proud that Wisconsin has joined Louisiana as the second state in the nation to embrace this effort, and we encourage all states to follow our lead. On May 1st, I invite every family, business, church, civic and community organization to join the ‘Thank a Worker’ movement with simple acts of gratitude that honor the true strength of our great state and our great nation.”

Louisiana St. Joseph the Worker Day was unanimously established in 2021 through Louisiana Senate Resolution No. 116. The observance pays tribute to all workers and their contributions. This includes military personnel, educators, first responders, healthcare providers, energy workers, farmers, fishermen, mechanics, restaurant staff, barbers and beauticians, administrative professionals, finance experts, and many others. It gives special recognition to mothers, who are believed to hold the most important vocation of all.

In this era of rapid technological change and artificial intelligence, May 1st serves as a timely reminder of the irreplaceable value of human creativity, care, and dedication. In 2025, Wisconsin became the second state in the nation to formally adopt the observance through Senate Joint Resolution 16, recognizing May 1st of each year as Wisconsin St. Joseph the Worker Day.

Wisconsin Senator Cory Tomczyk said: “Wisconsin proudly joins Louisiana to honor our workers—farmers, factory workers, teachers, tradespeople—who reflect St. Joseph’s humility, perseverance, and service. This resolution affirms work’s vital role in thriving communities.”

While the United States spotlights American workers with a federal holiday on Labor Day — the first Monday in September — this movement seeks to reclaim May 1st as another special day to champion our nation’s workers. Globally, May 1st has long been observed as International Workers’ Day. While that observance has often emphasized state power and class divisions, a more hopeful vision emerged in 1955 when Pope Pius XII established the worldwide feast of St. Joseph the Worker on the same date. This feast draws inspiration from St. Joseph, the humble carpenter whose life modeled dignity, dedication, patience, humility, and service.

This initiative is a non-partisan, grassroots effort and invites all people to affirm the dignity of labor and the human spirit.

“Louisiana’s working men and women deserve our recognition for what they do each and every day,” said Scott A. Angelle, Former Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana and former Director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), U.S. Department of the Interior and one of the founders of the St. Joseph the Worker Initiative. “It’s only right that we call a time-out to express our gratitude to those who are able and willing to get up each morning, put in an honest day’s work, and provide for their families. Their grit not only strengthens our communities but sets a powerful example for the next generation.”

Businesses, schools, churches, organizations, and families are encouraged to participate through simple, heartfelt acts such as:

• Hosting a St. Joseph the Worker Day breakfast for employees or first responders

• Buying coffee for a delivery driver or neighbor

• Writing thank-you notes to teachers and healthcare workers

• Offering “lagniappe” (a Cajun term for a little something extra) to those who serve

Every act counts. A growing number of organizations have already committed to participating, including Ochsner Lafayette General Hospital, St. Thomas More Catholic High School, and USA Energy Workers.

While participation is voluntary and free, organizations and individuals are invited to register their ‘Thank a Worker’ activities at saintjosephtheworker.com.

New “Forgotten Smoker” White Paper from PMI U.S. Warns That America Didn’t End Smoking; It Just Moved On—and 8 in 10 Americans Surveyed Demand a Better Approach

WASHINGTON, DC – America likes to believe it has solved the problem of smoking. It hasn’t. Results of a new national survey, released today, show that 79% of Americans say more must be done to combat smoking-related harm. Philip Morris International’s U.S. business (PMI U.S.) agrees, as detailed in The Forgotten Smoker: Modern Solutions to America’s Oldest Public Health Challenge. This white paper makes the case for policymakers, public health authorities, and medical professionals to recenter cigarette smoking as a public health priority.

The paper (and its accompanying website) offers a set of practical, evidence-based policy recommendations to help reduce smoking-related harm, counter misinformation, and expand access to regulated, FDA-authorized alternatives for legal-age adults who smoke. It describes today’s “forgotten smokers,” who are more likely to be disconnected from standard anti-smoking campaigns.

Read more: New “Forgotten Smoker” White Paper from PMI U.S. Warns That America Didn’t End Smoking; It Just Moved On—and 8 in 10 Americans Surveyed Demand a Better Approach

Investor Protections and Confidence Are Key to Crypto Innovation

After a decade of explosive growth, digital assets are rightfully moving into the financial mainstream. Financial institutions from NYSE to Nasdaq are investing in plans to integrate digital assets and tokenized securities. Even U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins has claimed that much of the financial system could move on-chain within "a couple of years." 

In preparation for this shift, the SEC is expected to announce an innovation exemption for tokenized securities in the coming days. Yet there’s a looming question on what level of investor protections will be included in this new era of finance and if new rules will ensure modern markets benefit every day American investors.

Read more: Investor Protections and Confidence Are Key to Crypto Innovation

LFT and LAE Announce Support for Constitutional Amendment 3

BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana Federation of Teachers and School Employees and the Louisiana Association of Educators announced their support for Constitutional Amendment 3 on the May 16, 2026 ballot.

The organizations said CA 3 creates a path to permanent salary increases for educators and school employees while protecting the retirement benefits they have earned. Under the amendment and companion legislation, savings from a one-time payment on the state’s debt to the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana would be used to support permanent salary increases of $2,250 for certificated personnel and $1,125 for noncertificated personnel, plus related benefits. The groups said the amendment would also help prevent a future pay cut if temporary stipends are not renewed in later budget cycles.

“Constitutional Amendment 3 is an important step toward the permanent pay increases educators and school employees have long deserved,” said Larry Carter, president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers and School Employees. “It creates a path away from temporary stipends and toward lasting salary growth, while protecting the retirement benefits educators and retirees have earned or will earn in the future. LFT will continue fighting for educators’ salaries to reach the Southern regional average and then the national average, and for school employees to receive the compensation they deserve.”

“CA 3 is an important step toward greater stability for the people who work in Louisiana’s public schools,” said D’Shay Oaks, president of the Louisiana Association of Educators. “This amendment helps create permanent salary increases for educators and school employees while protecting earned retirement benefits. LAE and LFT will continue advocating for permanent pay increases and for educators’ salaries to reach the Southern regional average and then the national average.”

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About the Louisiana Federation of Teachers and School Employees:

With over 18,000 members, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers and School Employees is the largest professional organization for educators in the state of Louisiana.

About the Louisiana Association of Educators:

The mission of the Louisiana Association of Educators is to organize and empower local associations to promote quality public schools, strengthen the education profession, and improve the well-being of members. 

Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch Responds to Today's Chevron vs. Plaquemines Parish SCOTUS Decision

BATON ROUGE, LA - In a unanimous decision announced today, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated a lower court ruling and held that this lawsuit will be moved from state to federal court, under the federal officer removal statute.

LLAW Executive Director Lana Venable had the following comment:
"The U.S. Supreme Court made the right decision for Louisiana today. These lawsuits - ongoing for over a decade - represent what is wrong with our state's legal system. This decision is a victory for hardworking Louisianans who want fairness and predictability, not for trial lawyers looking to cash in at the expense of the economic engine that drives Louisiana."

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About Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW)
Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) is a high-impact watchdog group with nearly 20,000 supporters across the state dedicated to fixing Louisiana's broken legal system through transparency, accountability, and lawsuit reform.

LOGA Responds to Supreme Court’s Decision to Move Plaquemines Parish Coastal Lawsuit to Federal Court

BATON ROUGE, LA (April 17, 2026) - Today, the United States Supreme Court issued a unanimous 8-0 decision in Chevron USA Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana declaring that the case should be tried in federal court, as opposed to state court.

In response, LOGA President Mike Moncla issued the following statement:

“This is a huge, but incremental win for our industry. For far too long, frivolous lawsuits, whether it be coastal or legacy, have pushed investment out of our state.

Decades ago, the defendants of these lawsuits invested in drilling in our coastal region after the state encouraged, incentivized, and gave permits to do so, all the while the state raked in billions of dollars in severance and royalty collections.

From the time these lawsuits began a decade ago, oil and gas activity in Louisiana’s state leases and inland waters has declined to nearly nothing.

Drilling is nil, production is a shadow of its former self, and service companies have been starved into bankruptcies.

This case is as frivolous as the ones by liberal cities like Baltimore who sue oil and gas for climate change -- while they sit in their air-conditioned offices.

Today’s ruling from the Supreme Court is the first step towards justice.”

Kennedy talks One Big Beautiful Bill savings: “It is breathtaking in its scope and will be in its effect”

“We cut taxes. Right now—don't take my word for it—just pick up the phone and arbitrarily call some Americans who have filed their taxes. They're getting money back.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today explained how the One Big Beautiful Bill has helped return money to the American people’s pockets in a speech on the U.S. Senate floor.

Key excerpts of the speech are below.

“We passed a major piece of legislation that is just starting to take effect. It's going to impact every American. They came up with a new name for it because they didn't like the old name, but I kind of like the old name, so that's what I’m going to call it: the One Big Beautiful Bill. It is really breathtaking in its scope and will be in its effect.

“We cut taxes. Right now—don't take my word for it—just pick up the phone and arbitrarily call some Americans who have filed their taxes. They're getting money back. The average tax refund, is up, like, 11%. The average American who normally gets a refund and who’s already filing is going to get an extra—what works out to be an extra—$250 to $300 a month, so that's going to help them deal with the higher prices.

“We also extended the prior tax cuts from 2017 that were about to expire. We made them permanent. Anybody who voted against making them permanent wanted to raise your taxes by $4.3 trillion. We beat them back.

“We increased the standard deduction. Whether you get a refund or not, you’re going to pay lower taxes because we increased the standard deduction. We gave Americans a larger child tax credit. We cut taxes for many Americans on Social Security. We cut taxes on tips. We cut taxes on overtime. We gave many Americans a deduction on the interest they pay for a car loan.”

. . .

“This is a major piece of legislation, and it’s taking effect now—and it’s not going to solve the problem completely, but it’s going to go a long way, because the best way to deal with inflation is to grow your way out of it.”

Kennedy also highlighted how short housing supply has raised American families’ cost of living.

He encouraged the U.S. House of Representatives to join the U.S. Senate in passing his Build Now Act to increase home supply and cut housing costs.

“You don't have to be able to explain the law of special relativity to know that the cost of a home is breathtaking, or to know that rents have gone up. Why is that? Because of the lack of supply—duh. That's because of a lack of supply.

“So, what do you do to make a . . . new home or used home more affordable? What do you do to make rents go down? You increase the supply. And that's what we’re trying to do.

“I sit on the Banking Committee. We passed—the Senate has, twice—a housing bill. It's in front of the House of Representatives right now. I hope my friends in the House pass it. I'll tell you one of the things it will do: It will increase housing starts. If you don't think this works, just go read an article about what’s going on in Austin. They increased housing supply in Austin. You know, rents are dropping in Austin like a fat guy on a seesaw. They're going down. Why? Because they increased supply.”

Watch Kennedy’s speech here.

Washington’s Crypto Debate Could Impact Louisiana’s Community Banks

For most Louisianans, the debate happening in Washington over cryptocurrency regulation can feel distant.

But the outcome will have very real consequences — especially for the community banks that power local economies across the state.

As Congress works toward advancing the CLARITY Act, one of the most important provisions taking shape is a bank-friendly approach to stablecoin regulation.

That matters more than it might seem.

Read more: Washington’s Crypto Debate Could Impact Louisiana’s Community Banks

What Flew Over Barksdale Should Change How We Think About China, AI, and American Power

For most Louisianans, national security feels distant—something that plays out in Washington or halfway around the world.

But recently, it showed up right here at home.

Multiple waves of unauthorized drones were spotted near Barksdale Air Force Base, one of the most strategically important military installations in the country. According to ABC News, the incursions raised serious concerns about surveillance and the vulnerability of U.S. airspace.

This wasn’t just an isolated incident. It was a glimpse of the future.

Read more: What Flew Over Barksdale Should Change How We Think About China, AI, and American Power

Democrats block Kennedy resolution to withhold senators’ pay during government shutdowns

“And if a Member of this body disagrees with what I am doing, then, by God, they ought to come down here and stand up in front of the U.S. Senate and stand up in front of the American people and stand up in front of God and stand up in front of country and stand up in front of all these people—these good people that aren’t being paid—and say: Here is why.”

Watch Kennedy’s comments here. 

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) attempted to pass his resolution to withhold senators’ pay during government shutdowns via unanimous consent on Sunday, but Senate Democrats objected and blocked the resolution.

“And here is what my resolution would do: It would change Senate rules to provide that, when we are in a shutdown, that Senators cannot be paid, cannot receive their salaries. Their checks would be—think of it this way, Mr. President—locked in a vault. And once the shutdown is over, the Senators could pick them up,” Kennedy explained.

“This resolution—again, it is not a bill—is about shared sacrifice. And I am not doing it to punish anybody. I am not doing it to try to embarrass anybody,” Kennedy said, later adding, “It is about shared sacrifice and sending a message. We have about a squillion employees at the Department of Homeland Security that aren’t being paid, and there is no prospect of them being paid.”

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) then objected to Kennedy’s unanimous consent request without being recognized by the Chair or stepping forward to explain his objection.

“Can you opine on why my colleague objected and then immediately left, and whether he is coming back?” Kennedy asked. The parliamentarian then claimed that Sen. Schatz did not need to be recognized to block Kennedy’s resolution from passing through unanimous consent.

“All right. I am coming back, Mr. President,” Kennedy said. “And I am coming back, and I am coming back, and I am coming back. Did I mention I will be back? And if a Member of this body disagrees with what I am doing, then, by God, they ought to come down here and stand up in front of the U.S. Senate and stand up in front of the American people and stand up in front of God and stand up in front of country and stand up in front of all these people—these good people that aren’t being paid—and say: Here is why.”

Kennedy first introduced early versions of this legislation in November 2025 during the historic 43-day government shutdown and fought for their passage on the U.S. Senate floor.

Kennedy’s resolution received unanimous, bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate Rules Committee in December 2025.

Full resolution text is available here.

Watch Kennedy’s speech here.  

Kennedy: I support the SAVE America Act “unconditionally”

“It’s meant to say to the American people, ‘Look, we in Congress hear you. We want you to trust our elections.’”

Watch Kennedy’s comments here.

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today reaffirmed his support for the SAVE America Act and called for the use of another reconciliation bill to pass the legislation in a speech on the U.S. Senate floor.

Key excerpts of the speech are below.

“Mr. President, I would like to talk for a few minutes about the SAVE [America] Act. I’m a cosponsor. I support it unconditionally. The SAVE [America] Act, as you well know, Mr. President, is really pretty simple. It’s about our sanctity of voting in America.

“It says, ‘If you want to register to vote in America, you have to prove that you're a citizen of America,’ and once you're registered, it says, ‘When you're voting in a federal election, in all instances, you have to prove you are who you say you are in order to vote.’ Very simple.

. . .

“It’s about trying to get the American people to trust our elections every year in light of the fact that President Biden and his team, with the concurrence of many of my colleagues in this chamber, admitted millions and millions and millions of people into our country illegally.”

. . .

“It’s meant to say to the American people, ‘Look, we in Congress hear you. We want you to trust our elections.’”

. . .

“If this bill is as important as we say it is, we should try it through reconciliation. I haven’t convinced Senator Thune of that. I haven’t convinced all of my colleagues on either side of the aisle, but I plan on continuing to chase them like they stole Thanksgiving and Christmas put together.”

Watch Kennedy’s speech here.

Jeff Landry Exposes John Fleming’s Cynical Carbon Capture Rebrand

In a recent video, Landry took direct aim at former Congressman John Fleming over his sudden opposition to carbon capture, calling it what it looks like to many observers: an opportunistic, cynical, and disingenuous flip-flop driven by politics, not principle.

Read more: Jeff Landry Exposes John Fleming’s Cynical Carbon Capture Rebrand

Governor Jeff Landry Opens Third Regular Session

Will Republicans break their losing streak on health care reform?

Despite a handful of promising drives, Republicans have a losing record on health care reform over the past two decades. Since the passage of ObamaCare, the GOP has repeatedly failed to successfully field an alternative vision — leaving more Americans with insurance cards but fewer who can afford it. Will Republicans prevail this time around with the so-called “Great Healthcare Plan” released in January?

Republican margins in Congress are extremely slim and getting members to coalesce behind one blueprint will be like herding cats. But there is hope given conservatives were able to eke out a tax cut win last summer under similar conditions. To borrow a line from “Dumb and Dumber”, “so you’re telling me there’s a chance.”

Read more: Will Republicans break their losing streak on health care reform?

Kennedy on Iran: “We’re not trying to start a war. . . . We’re trying to end it.”

“We’re not trying to be the world’s policeman. We’re trying to stop the Ayatollah from being the world’s policeman.”

Watch Kennedy’s comments here. 

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) explained why the United States is exerting pressure on Iran’s leaders to halt their missile program in a speech on the U.S. Senate floor.

Key excerpts of the speech are below.

“We don’t know how many people he’s hung in the last six months. We don’t know how many people he’s tortured. I’ve seen estimates as high as 50,000. So that’s what this business with Iran is all about.

“We’re not trying to be the world’s policeman. We’re trying to stop the Ayatollah from being the world’s policeman. He’s getting a lot of support from President Xi Jinping in China and Vladimir Putin in Russia and Kim Jong Un in North Korea. So that’s where we find ourselves, trying to stop this war.

“And to the Ayatollah, I would say, ‘Ayatollah, you’re entitled to believe what you want. You can hate me. You can believe that. I know you hate me and what I stand for. Do you know how I sleep at night knowing that you hate me? With the fan on. That’s your right. But you can’t act on that belief.’

“Put down the nuclear weapons. Put down the nuclear enrichment. Stop exporting terrorism to Hamas and Hezbollah. End your missile program. Stop killing and torturing your people. That’s all we want. And he’s doing that as we speak. He’s at war. We’re trying to stop it.

“I’m not about to give the president any advice. He has intelligence that I don’t have, and I respect the fact that he’s being very deliberate and careful in making the decision. If we make a deal with Iran, let’s make sure we have a protocol to enforce it, because my experience in watching the Ayatollah through the years, I wouldn’t trust this man if he were three days dead.”

. . .

“Let me say it again. We’re not trying to start a war. This war began a long time ago. We’re trying to end it.”

Watch Kennedy’s speech here.  

OPINION: Community Banks Lead in Small-Business Credit Access: Proposed Legislation Puts That at Risk

The Credit Card Competition Act, sponsored by Senators Durbin and Marshall, aims to inject competition into credit card networks and lower costs for merchants and consumers. The legislation requires issuers with over $100 billion in assets to enable at least two unaffiliated payment networks and gives merchants control over transaction routing. Community banks are explicitly exempt from this threshold. Yet despite this exemption, community banks will be disproportionately affected because the legislation misunderstands how interchange fees function in two-sided payment markets and why network routing requirements cannot be confined to large banks alone.

Read more: OPINION: Community Banks Lead in Small-Business Credit Access: Proposed Legislation Puts That at Risk

Governor Announces Historic Tax Relief as Louisiana Families Save More

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry today highlighted the impact of the 2024 Tax Reform Special Session, noting that folks across the state are now saving more money as they file their 2025 tax returns.

“When people file taxes this year, they are getting a bigger refund,” said Governor Landry. “The typical middle-class working family will save nearly $500, and the average working individual will save around $261—cutting their state income tax liability by nearly a third. Turns out the biggest jackpot in Louisiana this year was in your paycheck!”

Background:

The legislation delivered the largest income tax cut in state history. By nearly tripling the standard deduction to $12,500, families now pay no income tax on their first $25,000 of income. 

Louisiana moved to a flat 3 percent personal income tax rate, the second lowest in the nation and the lowest in the South, providing immediate relief.

The reform doubled the retirement income exemption to $12,000, allowing a married couple over 65 to earn nearly $49,000 tax-free. We also eliminated the corporate franchise tax and reduced the corporate income tax rate to a flat 5.5 percent, strengthening Louisiana’s business climate.

The changes are permanent and include automatic increases to the standard deduction to protect families from inflation.

New Report: Third-Party Litigation Financing Is Undermining Affordability Nationwide

Analysis shows higher prices, lost income, and lost tax revenue tied to exploitative lawsuit investment practices

(Baton Rouge, LA) – Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) recently released a new report detailing how third-party litigation financing (TPLF) is driving up costs for American consumers and families at a time when affordability remains a top concern across the country.

The report, The Impact of Third-Party Litigation Funding on U.S. Business Activity and Consumers, prepared by The Perryman Group, examines how outside foreign and sovereign entities that are financing lawsuits in exchange for a share of the payout are distorting the civil justice system and passing exorbitant costs onto households through inflated prices and reduced economic growth.

This highly unregulated and purposefully opaque practice turns America’s courtrooms into casinos that are open for business to investors at the expense of American citizens and businesses. Adding insult to injury, foreign investors can often avoid paying taxes on their profits.

“When undisclosed investors bankroll lawsuits for profit, the costs are not limited to the courtroom. Louisianans are facing these consequences through increased prices for goods and services, job losses, and reduced purchasing power. With little oversight, TPLF also lends itself to concerns regarding conflicts of interest, since we do not know who is actually controlling the litigation,” said Rep. Emily Chenevert (R-Baton Rouge). “I have filed HB240 in the upcoming session that will limit recovery under TPLF agreements and provide more disclosure around these agreements,” she added.

“Rep. Chenevert has led the charge to address TPLF in Louisiana, which has quietly become an increasingly significant burden on our families,” said Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch Executive Director Lana Venable. “Unfortunately, legislation introduced last year to reinforce initial 2024 reforms did not make it through the process. We look forward to Rep. Chenevert’s legislation this year to increase transparency on the involvement of outside financiers and protect litigants from exploitation,” she added.

According to the report, the economic impact of third-party litigation financing is significant:

• Over $607 per household per year in lost earnings and reduced purchasing power due to higher inflation and slower economic growth

• $192.79 per person annually in direct consumer costs tied to TPLF-driven litigation inefficiencies

• More than $31 billion in added inflationary pressure across the economy, driven in part by higher insurance and liability-related costs

• Over $54 billion in lost economic output annually, weakening job growth and income gains that families rely on to keep up with rising costs

• An estimated 454,450 jobs are lost every year as businesses struggle to absorb the rising costs and uncertainty created by third-party litigation financing

• Upwards of $15 billion in annual tax receipts are lost across Federal, State, and Local Governments due to excessive TPLF litigation.

“These findings confirm what we are already feeling at the checkout counter and when paying our monthly bills,” Venable added. “TPLF fuels the wave of frivolous litigation that raises costs across the economy, leaving families with less money in their pockets and fewer opportunities to get ahead while these wealthy outside investors earn millions in tax-free profits.”

CALA released the report as part of its ongoing efforts to highlight how lawsuit abuse and predatory litigation undermine affordability, economic stability, and fairness for consumers nationwide. CALA emphasizes that while a fair civil justice system is essential, practices that inject profit-driven incentives into litigation can create ripple effects that hurt households and economic viability long after a case is filed.

About Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW)

Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) is a high-impact watchdog group with nearly 20,000 supporters across the state dedicated to fixing Louisiana’s broken legal system through transparency, accountability, and lawsuit reform. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter and www.llaw.org.

About Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA)

Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is a nonpartisan, grassroots movement working to end rampant lawsuit abuse across the United States. CALA advocates for common sense legal reform measures by educating the public about the devastating, real-world costs of lawsuit abuse on working families and small businesses.

About The Perryman Group (TPG)

An economic and financial analysis firm, The Perryman Group (TPG), provides clients with well-documented, carefully considered answers to even the most complex questions. For more than 30 years, The Perryman Group has met the challenges of thousands of clients through a systematic approach and a level of performance that assures a consistent standard of excellence. The firm has been involved in scores of major events shaping the economic landscape, from crucial corporate locations to landmark legislation to important regulatory policies to notable judicial decisions.

OPINION: Thankful for PBM Reform

Access to prescription drugs often determines whether people can stay healthy and independent. For years, patients had little insight into why prices kept rising or why access to certain medications suddenly changed. That’s why the passage of pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform is an important and long-overdue step forward.

PBMs sit between patients, pharmacies, and insurers, influencing nearly every part of the prescription process. When decisions are made without transparency, patients pay more while PBMs continue to profit from a system few people could understand, and even fewer could challenge.

I’m grateful that Senator Cassidy, Speaker Johnson, Representative Scalise, and Representative Letlow took these concerns seriously and delivered PBM reform. For families across Louisiana who rely on daily medications to manage chronic conditions, their decisive action represents a meaningful shift toward accountability where it has long been missing.

Just as importantly, lawmakers chose to focus on reforms that address the real problem instead of proposals like Most Favored Nation pricing, which could leave patients even worse off.

With PBM reform now passed, patients can finally begin to see greater transparency and fairness at the pharmacy counter. I thank Congress for staying focused, following through, and putting patients first when it mattered most.

Ben Orlando