DAVE ROSS

Fearing the pharmaceutical industry, Dave Ross vows to never get sick

Feb 5, 2016, 10:27 PM | Updated: May 13, 2016, 10:30 pm

Remember Martin Shkreli, the former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals? He’s famous for jacking up the price of an old prescription medicine to $75,000 a bottle.

He was subpoenaed to testify before Congress on Thursday, but the only question he answered was how to pronounce his name.

So the Congressional committee lectured him – especially the ranking Democrat Rep. Elijah Cummings.

Related: This arrest shows how U.S. laws encourage ripping off sick people

“It’s not funny Mr. Shkreli,” Cummings said.

Cummings was furious at the way Shkreli sat there smiling, and even grinning at times.

“People are dying and they’re getting sicker and sicker.”

It had no effect. Shkreli’s expression said BLEEP you and BLEEP your stupid committee. And after he was dismissed – just to rub it in – he went on a website called BLAB, and hosted an online call-in show, taking questions. He even invited Elijah Cummings to call. Cummings didn’t call.

Shkreli is now under indictment for securities fraud.

I have no idea whether he’s guilty. But I will say that if he’s any indication of who’s running the pharmaceutical industry, I am resolving as of today never to get sick.

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Fearing the pharmaceutical industry, Dave Ross vows to never get sick