February 24, 2011—Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, who is widely considered the U.S. Senate’s leading authority on 340B issues, will retire when his current term expires following the 2012 elections. The five-term veteran made the announcement on Feb. 18 in Albuquerque.
Meanwhile, GOP Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, another strong 340B supporter, has decided not to seek his party’s nomination to oppose President Obama for reelection in 2012. Thune and Bingaman were the co-sponsors of the 340B Program Improvement and Integrity Act (S. 1239), which called for the program’s expansion to inpatient drug purchases, for rural hospitals’ addition to the program, and for steps to enhance 340B’s integrity. Much of their bill became law with the passage of health care reform in 2010.
Bingaman, who has served in the Senate since 1982, has used his seniority on the Finance and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committees to advocate for 340B’s expansion. He is the third Senate Democrat to decide not to run in 2012. Independent Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, who caucuses with the Democrats, also is not running. Their decisions not to run are expected to make it tougher for the party to keep its current majority.
Thune’s decision not to seek the presidency means that there will continue to be a strong Republican voice on 340B issues in Congress. He serves with Bingaman on the Finance Committee and now ranks fourth in the Senate GOP’s leadership as chair of the Republican Policy Committee. Thune is seen as a possible successor to the Senate’s second-ranking Republican, Minority Whip John Kyl of Arizona, who like Bingaman has decided to step down when his current term expires. Sens. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, the third-ranking Republican as chair of the Senate Republican Conference, and John Conryn of Texas, who ranks fifth as head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, also are seen as contenders for Kyl’s job.