A bill intended to combat the opioid crisis in Minnesota has overwhelmingly passed the Senate.
Republican Sen. Julie Rosen's bill would impose $20 million in annual registration fees on pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors to aid education and treatment efforts. Prior to the vote Monday, Rosen said the drug companies need to take responsibility.
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"Frankly, they are an industry of addiction," she said. "They are making money off a drug that does have a tremendous amount of power, but they are also making money."
Drug industry representatives say the bill amounts to a punitive tax that could result in higher health care costs. A conference committee will now work out differences between the Senate bill and a House version that passed earlier.




