NASHUA, N.H. — New reporting from WMUR puts Opioid Lobbyist Cinde Warmington’s lies on behalf of Purdue Pharma back in the spotlight, this time showing the former opioid lobbyist was working directly against then-Governor Jeanne Shaheen’s efforts to restrict prescriptions of the addictive opioid OxyContin.
At the same time, Shaheen’s husband and Warmington’s then-boss, Billy Shaheen, distanced himself from Warmington’s work on behalf of Purdue Pharma.
This year, Warmington has claimed that the lobbying work was “assigned” to her. In the 2002 Nashua Telegraph article referenced in the WMUR report, Billy Shaheen states: “These are men and women who are partners of mine and who are able to represent who they wish to.”
WATCH: New Reporting Contradicts Opioid Lobbyist Warmington’s Lies on Purdue Pharma History
Warmington Fought then-Governor Shaheen on Purdue Pharma’s Behalf:
What has been lost in the ongoing discussion of the issue is who Warmington was arguing against. In 2002, that policy battle pitted her against Shaheen, who was governor at the time.
News 9 reported on the issue almost 25 years ago, when Shaheen met with reporters to expose what she called a politically motivated attack on a state Medicaid program.
“The company that makes OxyContin is working to sabotage the prescription drug program that Health and Human Services has been implementing,” Shaheen said at the time.
Shaheen’s Husband Distances Himself from Opioid Lobbyist Warmington’s Efforts:
A Nashua Telegraph report covering the same press conference addressed the clash between Shaheen and her husband Billy Shaheen’s law firm, Shaheen & Gordon, where Warmington worked while representing Purdue Pharma.
In her campaign for governor, Warmington has repeatedly said she was “assigned” the task of advocating for Purdue, but in the 2002 Telegraph report, Billy Shaheen is quoted distancing himself from the lobbying effort.
“I can’t control my law firm,” he said in the report. “These are men and women who are partners of mine and who are able to represent who they wish to.”
Nashua Telegraph: Firm targeting practice of requiring approval – April 18, 2002
CONCORD – Gov. Jeanne Shaheen declared political war on the maker of the pain-killer OxyContin, charging the firm with trying to sabotage her program to manage the cost of pharmaceuticals for the low-income and disabled.
Senate Majority Leader Gary Francoeur, R-Hudson, and Sen. Russell Prescott, R-Kingston are working with Purdue Pharma — maker of OxyContin — on legislation (HB 1218) that would open the state’s program to a lawsuit, an angry Shaheen told reporters.
“They can threaten to sue me, they can threaten to sue Health and Human Services (Department) but that is what they are going to have to do,” Shaheen vowed.
Meanwhile the law firm of Bill Shaheen, the governor’s husband, has two lawyers who spent the last several months lobbying for Purdue Pharma in hopes of reversing the state’s practice of requiring prior approval of the drug before it’s prescribed to most people on Medicaid.
“As you might expect, I don’t agree with every client my husband’s firm represents,”Shaheen said. “He’s (Bill Shaheen) not getting any financial benefit from this.”
Asked what was driving opposition, Gov. Shaheen said, “I think it’s absolutely politically motivated.”
Shaheen is the only declared Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate race this fall and has made attacks on pharmaceutical costs a major focus of that campaign.
Democratic Party leaders have already accused Sen. Bob Smith and his Republican primary rival, Rep. John E. Sununu, of opposing efforts to substitute cheaper generic drugs for brand-name pharmaceuticals.
Francoeur predicted the Senate today would approve a compromise that avoids any lawsuit and lets the program continue the practice of seeking prior authorization for certain drugs.
The compromise permits groups such as the state association of pharmacists to nominate some members on an advisory committee that advises HHS Commissioner Donald Shumway about the program.
The panel is “stacked” with supporters of Shumway’s agency, Francoeur claimed. He said the proposal will have the support of key Senate Democrats.
State Trooper Nancy Wiggins said there have been five robberies of OxyContin in the state since January and it’s so addictive that abusers have gone to emergency rooms to try to get the drug. “Some abusers were even going to multiple emergency rooms as many as 15 times a month,” Wiggins said in testimony to a Senate panel last week.
The Telegraph confirmed Purdue Pharma has paid $8,210 so far in lobbying fees to Arpiar Saunders Jr. and Cinde Warmington, two lawyers in the firm of Shaheen and Gordon.
Both registered to lobby for the pharmaceutical company last Dec. 4, one month after HHS began its drug-management program.
During a telephone interview, Bill Shaheen said he sent an e-mail to his firm’s bookkeeping department in February, instructing he get none of the proceeds from the firm’s work for Purdue Pharma.
“I don’t even know the name of the company. I have intentionally made sure I wasn’t involved with the company,” Bill Shaheen said.
The governor and spouse haven’t talked about the matter at all, Bill Shaheen said. “I can’t control my law firm. These are men and women who are partners of mine and who are able to represent who they wish to.”
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