Joe Manchin on Opioid Epidemic: ‘This Is a Business Plan’ by the Drug Companies

EXCERPT:

MANCHIN: "This is a business plan. They are liable. This is a business plan. You can’t send this many pills into one area. You can’t send this many doses of pills into the United States market unless you have a business plan because you know it’s really fertile ground. The only thing I’ve said is, this is what’s causing it. Can’t we at least charge the pharmaceutical companies one penny per milligram for every opiate they produce? I have a bill called 'Lifeboat.' I need Republican participation. Some people say, 'We can’t, it’s a new tax.' This is not a tax. It’s not passed on to the consumer. This is a fee for what the problems were caused by the pharmaceutical inundating the market. We’ve got no treatment plans."