- Musk-funded ads target 5 GOP legislators in Kentucky, Nebraska, and Dakota states
- Accuses lawmakers of undermining Trump-era 340B drug pricing reforms
- Controversial claims link program to youth gender care and immigration services
- Pharmaceutical industry lobbying suspected behind $3M ad campaign
- North Dakota bill progresses unanimously despite opposition
Political tensions erupted this week as a PAC supported by tech billionaire Elon Musk launched attack ads against five Republican state legislators. The campaign focuses on their support for the 340B drug pricing program, a federal initiative requiring pharmaceutical companies to provide discounted medications to safety-net hospitals. Analysts suggest this marks Musk's first major foray into state-level GOP politics since the 2024 election cycle began.
In North Dakota, Representative Jon Nelson found himself at the center of the storm when a mobile billboard circled the Bismarck Capitol accusing him of 'subsidizing gender transitions.' The ad misrepresents Nelson's bill, which actually seeks to prevent drug manufacturers from restricting 340B discounts to rural hospitals. 'This is classic astroturfing,' Nelson told reporters. 'Big Pharma dislikes 340B because it cuts into their record $1.2T annual profits.'
The campaign's regional focus reveals strategic targeting of states with vulnerable healthcare systems. Nebraska's Legislative Bill 783, which passed its first vote 41-0, aims to safeguard 340B participation for 28 critical access hospitals. Despite the PAC's six-figure ad buy in Omaha markets, public support remains strong – a recent Rural Health Initiative poll shows 67% of Nebraskans back the legislation.
Healthcare economists note the 340B program generates $38B annually for underserved communities. However, pharmaceutical trade groups have spent $92M lobbying against it since 2020. 'This ad campaign follows Big Pharma's playbook,' explained Georgetown University policy analyst Dr. Lila Chen. 'They're leveraging cultural wedge issues to erode support for essential healthcare funding.'
The Musk connection raises questions about tech billionaires' growing influence in healthcare policy. While Building America's Future hasn't disclosed donors, Federal Election Commission records show Musk contributed $5M to allied PACs in Q1 2024. This comes as Musk's Neuralink expands into pharmaceutical AI partnerships, prompting ethics watchdogs to call for transparency reforms.