State Attorney General William Tong says his office has diagnosed an aggressive cancer eating away at America's healthcare system.



According to Tong, it's triggered by scheming executives at many of the largest pharmaceutical companies illegally working together to artificially inflate the cost of generic drugs. Forty-three other states are joining the effort spearheaded by Connecticut's AG to litigate drugmakers into a court-ordered treatment plan.

It's hardly the first lawsuit targeting the skyrocketing price of prescription medicine. This week, we make a diagnosis of our own on whether the evidence compiled by Tong's team of attorneys is damaging enough to make a dent into those costs.

We also size up the latest measures by Gov. Ned Lamont to push his highway toll plan over the finish line this legislative session.

But what about sports betting, which if made legal could be a much faster revenue generator for the state than tolls? Lamont's not giving us much hope on that happening anytime soon.

And we raise concerns over troubling attempts to intimidate the news media, both here and abroad, including a recent episode in Bridgeport that left a Hearst Connecticut Media reporter in handcuffs.

State Attorney General William Tong says his office <a href="https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Connecticut-Files-Lawsuit-Alleging-Drug-Price-Fixing-509865931.html" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Connecticut-Files-Lawsuit-Alleging-Drug-Price-Fixing-509865931.html">has diagnosed</a> an aggressive cancer eating away at America's healthcare system.

According to Tong, it's triggered by scheming executives at many of the largest pharmaceutical companies illegally working together to <a href="https://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-tong-pharma-lawsuit-20190513-26nfbdcxffa6pcotx64tyuysfq-story.html" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-tong-pharma-lawsuit-20190513-26nfbdcxffa6pcotx64tyuysfq-story.html">artificially inflate the cost of generic drugs</a>. Forty-three other states are joining <a href="https://portal.ct.gov/AG/Press-Releases/2019-Press-Releases/TONG-LEADS-LAWSUIT-AGAINST-GENERIC-DRUG-MANUFACTURERS-IN-CONSPIRACY-TO-FIX-PRICES-FOR-OVER-100-DRUGS" data-cke-saved-href="https://portal.ct.gov/AG/Press-Releases/2019-Press-Releases/TONG-LEADS-LAWSUIT-AGAINST-GENERIC-DRUG-MANUFACTURERS-IN-CONSPIRACY-TO-FIX-PRICES-FOR-OVER-100-DRUGS">the effort spearheaded by Connecticut's AG</a> to litigate drugmakers into a court-ordered treatment plan.
It's hardly the first lawsuit targeting the skyrocketing price of prescription medicine. This week, we make a diagnosis of our own on whether the evidence compiled by Tong's team of attorneys is damaging enough to make a dent into those costs.
We also size up <a href="https://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-pol-lamont-20190514-zkjr23ugsfc4llkvyz7pajhjb4-story.html" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-pol-lamont-20190514-zkjr23ugsfc4llkvyz7pajhjb4-story.html">the latest measures</a>&nbsp;by Gov. Ned Lamont to push his highway toll plan over the finish line this legislative session.
But what about sports betting, which if made legal could be a much faster revenue generator for the state than tolls? Lamont's <a href="https://ctmirror.org/2019/05/08/lamont-sees-no-deal-on-gambling-in-19-session/" data-cke-saved-href="https://ctmirror.org/2019/05/08/lamont-sees-no-deal-on-gambling-in-19-session/">not giving us much hope</a> on that happening anytime soon.
And we raise concerns over troubling attempts to intimidate the news media, both here and abroad, including a recent episode in Bridgeport that left a <a href="https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Hearst-reporter-detained-by-Bridgeport-cops-while-13834244.php" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Hearst-reporter-detained-by-Bridgeport-cops-while-13834244.php">Hearst Connecticut Media reporter in handcuffs</a>.

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

Connecticut's best journalists come out of the political trenches every Wednesday to join us on WNPR's weekly news roundtable The Wheelhouse.

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