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Daily Rounds: Money Fueled Alcohol Tax Repeal; Surprising Shift On Gene Patents; Biogen Cuts; Election Effects On Health Reform

Money fuels repeal of alcohol tax - The Boston Globe "The alcohol industry, which contributed the vast majority of the nearly $2.5 million to the Vote Yes on One Committee, far outspent the opposition. Beer giant Anheuser-Busch contributed $88,110, and the Beer Distributors of Massachusetts gave nearly $300,000. The Committee Against Repeal of the Alcohol Tax didn’t even raise $200,000, according to the latest finance reports filed with the state." (Boston Globe)

Feds Surprise Biotech Industry With Gene Patent Rule : NPR "The Justice Department is proposing to overturn 30 years of legal precedent by sharply limiting patents on genes. The government surprised just about everyone who follows this issue when it suggested this change of policy in a court filing last week." (npr.org)

Biogen to ax 650 workers - BostonHerald.com The giant Weston-based biotechnology firm said it expects to see a total savings of $300 million due to a combination of moves, including shutting down offices in Waltham, Wellesley and San Diego. The company also said it will nix its cardiovascular and cancer-treatment research programs. (Boston Herald)

And about those midterm elections:

Medical News: Obama Will Consider ACA Modifications - in Washington-Watch, Reform from MedPage Today But, he continued, "If the Republicans have ideas on how to improve our healthcare system, if they want to suggest modifications that would deliver faster and more effective reform, I'm happy to consider some of those ideas." (medpagetoday.com)

Voters oust half of House Democrats who opposed health-care law "Did Democrats dig their own graves by passing the unpopular health-care bill last year? That remains uncertain: The midterm elections Tuesday provided zero clarity on this often-debated question." (The Washington Post)

To Save Money, Save the Health Care Act - NYTimes.com "If the newly elected representatives and senators are truly concerned about rising health care costs, they should work to deploy the law’s cost-containment measures fully rather than try to repeal them." (The New York Times)

This program aired on November 4, 2010. The audio for this program is not available.

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