by Justin Lin, policy intern

NEWS:

• Drug giants such as Amgen and Genentech have been lobbying for state legislatures to pass laws that would require pharmacists to inform doctors when generics were being used instead of brand name drugs. However, there is such legislation in California, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania that looks as though those measures may pass. Amgen and Genentech have spent a combined $650,000 on state races so far. (Pew Charitable Trusts)
• Ken Buck is running for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO). Buck, who lost in the 2010 Senate election to Sen. Michael Bennet by two percent, was expected to run for the state attorney general position instead. He committed a series of gaffes in 2010 that some believe were extremely costly to his campaign in 2010, so how he does should be quite interesting. (Washington Post)
• Three candidates for mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh, Mike Ross, and Rob Consalvo participated in the first mayoral debate for the upcoming election in November. The three candidates talked about housing, public transportation, and business in the city  but also discussed liquor licenses and Boston’s current ban on happy hours. (Washington Post)
• House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Rep. Paul Ryan, and New Mexico governor Susana Martinez spoke at a seminar held by the Koch brothers. This meeting, which is generally held twice a year, generally allows those invited to mingle and receive presentations from public officials. Both Cantor and Ryan have attended these events before and Ryan has been closely linked with the Koch brothers’ organization. (Politico)
• Couples who have two different political positions may experience some difficulty when discussing politics, but the relationship probably takes a different turn when one of them runs for office. What if, however, both of them are running for the same office? David Johnson, a Republican, and Jennifer Johnson, a Democrat, have been nominated by their respective parties to run for the Waterville Ward I position in a town in Maine. (Washington Times)