Carrie Buck’s Campaign Criticized for Opposing Drug Price Reductions

Republican Candidate Carrie Buck’s Stance on Drug Pricing in Nevada

Carrie Buck, a Republican candidate for Congress in Nevada’s 1st District, has been vocal about her campaign to reduce costs, although she has previously opposed measures aimed at lowering prescription drug prices.

Representing parts of Las Vegas and Henderson in the Nevada Senate since 2020, Buck is now running for a seat in Congress. In the past year, she voted against Assembly Bill 250, a proposal designed to extend Medicare’s negotiated drug prices to all residents of Nevada. The bill aimed to cap costs on various medications for Medicare beneficiaries, including treatments for diabetes, heart failure, and autoimmune diseases, among others.

Former Lt. Gov. Kate Marshall, a proponent of the bill, emphasized its importance in an interview with the Nevada Independent. She stated, “People have the right to have access to medication at a reasonable price.” Marshall highlighted the ongoing financial pressures faced by Nevadans due to inflation and the pandemic, stressing the responsibility of public servants to support the community.

Despite the bill’s passage in the Nevada Legislature, it faced a veto from Republican Governor Joe Lombardo. However, Democrats have expressed intentions to reintroduce the legislation.

In defense of her stance, Buck expressed concerns about the potential broader impacts of capping prices, stating, “Anytime you put caps on things, I really worry about the greater impact.” Her comments were shared in a 2024 interview where she explained her vote against the bill.

Buck also stood against the 2021 Inflation Reduction Act, which authorized federal negotiations to lower drug prices, benefiting over 140,000 Nevadans. She described the act as a “disaster.”

Her congressional race pits her against Democratic incumbent Rep. Dina Titus, a supporter of the Inflation Reduction Act. Titus praised the legislation for its role in reducing healthcare and energy costs in a statement following its passage.