By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
First District Congressman Marion Berry attacked the manufacturers of prescription medicines, calling them liars and accusing them of seeking profits at the expense of United States customers.
He also said that eventually, drug prices would be forced lower.
Berry bristled at the mention of one argument by drug companies, which claims they have to charge high to pay for research and development.
"That's just a lie," he said. "It's just a flat-out lie. The research that is done, the high-risk, costly research that is done, is paid for by the U.S. taxpayers. The only expenses (the companies) have is the money it takes to get them licensed and to prove that they're safe. And they do spend some money on that.
"But, they sell their products to the entire rest of the world for a fourth of what we pay for it in the United States," he continued. "And if they can sell it that cheap in Canada or Mexico or Argentina or Great Britain or Japan, then they can sell it for that price here.
"The pharmaceutical manufacturers in this country have repeatedly shown their willingness to lie, cheat, steal and rob the American people," Berry said. "And the only reason they are doing that is to make more money. And the sad part of it is that the people who get taken advantage of the most are the oldest and the sickest and the poorest people in this country. That is a hard statement, but I'll stand by it, and I've said it to their face. It's not something that I don't say to them."
He said about half of all health care costs in America come from pharmaceuticals. He also accused the Food and Drug Administration of being in "cahoots" with the drug companies in trying to keep people from re-importing drugs from overseas, where they can be bought cheaper.
"You'll notice that the FDA has started saying they found some Fed Ex or UPS packages and the medicine was not properly labeled," he said. "The fact is, you can get a prescription from Canada, and it's not properly labeled according to the FDA, because according to FDA it would have to have the manufacturer's label on it. It was perfectly good medicine. They haven't said there was anything wrong with the content of these bottles. They're just using a technicality to try and scare the American people. The fact is, the Food and Drug Administration is in cahoots with the prescription drug manufacturers to try to keep the price of medicine high, and they have been for a long time."
He called the alleged practice shameful.
"It is a terrible burden to the American people. And it is shameful that our public policy has allowed the prescription drug manufacturers, with the assistance of the United States Government, to rob our people. But that's what they do."
Berry said he believes that eventually, re-importing would put enough pressure on drug manufacturers to bring down the cost of medicine.
"Eventually we're going to have the international market price available to us. It is basically ridiculous in a time of the world economy when you can get on the Internet and order anything you want to from any place you want to as long as you've got the ability to pay for it, to think we're going to have a price for a commodity in the United States, that's four times as high as what you pay anywhere else in the world, and that's just not going to last."
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Questions over financial matters involving the management of the One-Stop training centers asked by the State Employment Security Division have one Forrest Citian looking to clear her name.
In a story last week in the Times-Herald, it was reported that officials with the Office of Financial Management Services of the Arkansas State Employment Security Department recently reviewed several items regarding a variety of allegations against Manpower, Inc., which serves as the Title One Provider in the Eastern Arkansas Workforce area. One of the allegations centered around the involvement of Forrest Citian Florine Bingham who served as manager for the Forrest City One-Stop location, while also serving as a board member on the Workforce Investment Board of Eastern Arkansas.
According to Bingham, she was hired to be an employee of the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce, which was under contract to provide management services to the One-Stop Center.
"I was never on the payroll of Manpower, and I want that to be clear. I was hired by the Chamber to manage the center. My position as center manager dealt with enhancing our partnerships with area employers. I did not in any way deal with budgets or the procedures involved in generating a budget for the One-Stop center," said Bingham.
According to Chamber Executive Director Danny Ferguson, Bingham was hired by the Chamber to manage the One-Stop Center.
"This all began when the Forrest City, and I know the Helena chapters of the Chamber of Commerce, were notified of a proposal by the WIBEA which would allow the economic developers in the area to manage the One-Stop Centers. We were interested because it would put us in direct contact with employers, and we brought Florine in to manage the center. I had no way of knowing when she was hired that she was a member of the WIBEA board, and didn't know that there was a possible conflict," said Ferguson.
The questions regarding Bingham centered on the fact that she served as a member of the WIBEA board while also receiving payment from the WIBEA as an employee. According to Ferguson, Bingham was paid from funds that were in the Chamber contract with the WIBEA after Bingham found out that the Chamber did not offer any benefits such as health insurance.
"Here at the Chamber we don't have a benefits package with insurance or anything like that. We were able to set up an agreement with the WIBEA that they would pay Mrs. Bingham from the contract agreement that we had with them. In order for them to do that, she actually had to be placed on the WIBEA payroll, but her office was located here in the Chamber office, and we provided office services such as telephone service," Ferguson said.
According to Bingham, prior to accepting the position with the Chamber, she questioned the WIBEA as to whether there would be a conflict of interest and was told no.
"I asked officials whether there was a conflict and was told that there wasn't because I was not an employee of the Chamber and not an employee of the WIBEA. This isn't the first time that I have looked at a position and there was a possible conflict because of a board that I've served on, and I've had to evaluate whether to stay on the board or accept the position," said Bingham.
Bingham also wanted it clear that she was not forced to resign from the position.
"I just want the public to know that I haven't been involved in any wrongdoing. I had already resigned as One-Stop manager to take a position at East Arkansas Community College so that I could be closer to my oldest child who was graduating from high school."
According to Ferguson, the Chamber is also ceased its involvement with the One-Stop Center after completing the contract.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
A large crowd of officials representing the Arkansas Delta Byways, people involved in the tourism industry and dignitaries ranging from Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant to Congressman Marion Berry attended the group's fourth annual awards banquet held Friday night in Forrest City.
The ADB is a tourism and promotion association that serves 15 counties in Eastern Arkansas, including St. Francis County. The event honors individuals, groups and other events that helped promote tourism in the area during the past year. This year's banquet was held at the Civic Center.
Byways President Rodney Rouse and Bryant both offered brief opening statements after the events' silent auction had begun and dinner had been served. Following dinner, Dr. Ruth Hawkins, the executive director of ADB, talked about the past year in the organization.
"We have had an exciting year," said Hawkins. "Most notably the Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Celebration that we have held this year. That has kept us very busy this year planning and attending those celebrations around the Delta area.
"Another thing that we have had a great success with is the Thunder on the Byways event," added Hawkins. According the Hawkins, the Thunder on the Byways was a motorcycle tour along the Great River Road. "Bikers drove along the historic route for three days, stopping at several cities. Many cities had signs welcoming us. Some sang for us, some fed us, but everybody was very hospitable, and we all had a great time." Hawkins' comments were followed by a presentation outlining the three-day motorcycle event.
Awards in nine categories were handed out at the banquet. Director of the SFC Museum Laura Mazzanti was one of three finalists for the Outstanding Member Award. Naomi Mitchell of St. Charles in Arkansas County took the top honor in that category.
The winners in the other eight categories were: Media Support, Matt Fite, Editor of the Arkansas Advertiser, in Crittenden County; Hospitality, Lake Village in Chicot County; Entrepreneur, the Double Band Duck Club in Poinsett County; Tourism Support, the Preservation of African-American Cemeteries, Inc., in Phillips County; Festival or Event of the Year, the Louisiana Purchase Celebration in Marianna and Brinkley; the Boot Strap Award, the Bible Museum in DeWitt; Promotional, the Thunder Cruise to all participating counties; Cultural Heritage, Parkin Archeological State Park in Cross County; and the Tourism Person of the Year, Gretchen Sacotnik of Paragould in Greene County.
Mazzanti said that she was very pleased with the event. "I thought it went extremely well. We set an attendance record for the event with nearly 200 people. I am very proud that we had over 30 people from Forrest City attend. These people were members of the Advertising and Promotions Commission, the Forrest City City Council, the Museum Board and our staff. I've only heard positive feedback from our guests Friday night. Many told me that when Forrest City does something that they do it bigger and better than anyone else."
An account has been established at the First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas to help with the medical expenses incurred by a participant in last weekend's International Professional Rodeo Association's event held at the Wiley T. Jones fairgrounds.
Justin Evans, 23, of Benton, Mo., was critically injured in the bull riding competition at the IPRA's annual charity rodeo in Forrest City.
Evans was airlifted to the Med in Memphis where he remains in critical condition, but is improving. His family will be staying in Memphis with him while he recovers, according to rodeo officials.
Anyone wanting to donate to the fund, may deliver the donation to any bank branch of the FNBEA. Donations should be specified to the Justin Evans Benefit Fund.
For more information, contact Becky Huckaba at 633-0145 or Lisa Roberts at 261-8560.
The Forrest City City Council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, at city hall.
Councilmen will open bids for leveling of land at the Forrest City Sports Complex.
Councilmen will also hear two resolutions. One resolution would allow the city to apply for the Trails for Life grant funds, and the other would authorize the mayor to accept the 2003 Law Enforcement Block Grant award offered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.