Schweikert Funds Debt Reduction via Weight-Loss Drug Endorsement

On Dec 18, 2023

TL/DR –

The Arizona Republic has revealed that Representative David Schweikert’s support for weight loss drug, Ozempic, and his claim that it could help reduce the national debt, could be influenced by his campaign funding. Novo Nordisk, a pharmaceutical company that makes a similar drug to Ozempic, has been cited as the second-largest contributor to Schweikert’s third-quarter re-election campaign, donating $5,000. Critics, such as Chairwoman of the Arizona Democratic Party Yolanda Bejarano, argue that this suggests Schweikert is prioritizing campaign funding over the welfare of Arizonans, evidenced further by his voting history in favor of tax cuts for the wealthy, proposed abortion bans, and advocacy for cutting social security and medicare.

ARIZONA’s Representative Schweikert Tied to Big Pharma

Recently, the Arizona Republic revealed a connection between Representative Schweikert (AZ-01) and Big Pharma. Schweikert has been endorsing Ozempic as a solution to reduce national debt, seemingly propelled by the pharmaceutical industry’s contribution to his re-election campaign. The second most significant donation, $5,000, was from Novo Nordisk, a pharmaceutical company that manufactures a drug similar to Ozempic.

Yolanda Bejarano, the Arizona Democratic Party Chairwoman, voiced her opinion. “Schweikert’s focus is not on making healthcare affordable for Arizonans, but who can fund his vulnerable re-election campaign,” she said. Bejarano referred to Schweikert’s record of supporting tax cuts for the rich, backing legislation to ban abortions, and advocating for cuts to social security and medicare.

Key Reveals from Arizona Republic:

During a Sept. 26 presentation to a local Young Republicans group, Schweikert discussed using GPL-1 agonist drugs, like Ozempic, to lower national debt. Novo Nordisk, the maker of such drugs, donated $5,000 to Schweikert’s re-election campaign shortly after. Watch the presentation here.
On Nov. 27, Schweikert shared a link to a Financial Times article in a newsletter to constituents. The linked article featured a statement from Novo Nordisk’s CEO about increasing the use of its drugs.

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