Cuomo’s ‘COVID Czar’ immediately resigned after losing exemption to ethics laws

Published

2 years ago

May 2, 2021

Cuomo’s right-hand man for COVID-19 in the state of New York immediately resigned after losing an exemption to ethics laws.

Larry Schwartz stepped down after COVID advisors lost their “volunteer” label, thus making them him subject to ethics laws in the state.

Top Cuomo aide Larry Schwartz latest to leave after repeal of ethics rule https://t.co/hN479cx2SE pic.twitter.com/SB5lC6wESQ
— New York Post (@nypost) April 30, 2021

The Post Millennial reported Saturday that COVID-19 advisors had previously not been responsible for disclosing financial information and there were no anti-lobbying provisions in place.

Scwartz has been active in the governor’s response to COVID-19. Cuomo’s secretary Melissa DeRosa tweeted a note of thanks to the now-former COVID “Czar.”

“I can’t think of another public servant who has sacrificed more than Larry Schwartz in their entire career than he has over the last year as a volunteer,” she said.

I can’t think of another public servant who has sacrificed more than Larry Schwarz in their entire career than he has over the last year as a volunteer.

Today I say thank you – and everyone else (esp those who stayed home while he showed up every day) should too.
— Melissa DeRosa (@melissadderosa) April 29, 2021

Read the full story here.

Related Topics:Andrew Cuomo covid Cuomo ethics gov cuomo New York

FDA will work with China to import cancer drugs due to U.S. shortages

Published

3 days ago

June 7, 2023

Sara Carter Staff

Earlier this week the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it will be working to import chemotherapy drugs from, of all places, China. The drug, called Cisplatin, is to help “ramp up supply amidst rampant drug shortages in the U.S.” reports Foreign Desk News.

Foreign Desk News writes:

Cisplatin comes from drugmaker Qilu Pharmaceutical, which is marketed and produced in China but has not been approved by the FDA. According to a May 24 letter, Qilu will work with the Canadian-based drug company Apotex to import and distribute the medication, which will come in 50-milligram vials with Chinese labels.

“The FDA is responding to yet another generic drug shortage,” said Edmund F. Haislmaier, an expert in healthcare policy and markets at The Heritage Foundation. “The underlying cause of those shortages is that generic drugs have become low-margin commodity products,” he added.

Last week on Twitter, FDA commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said the partnership with Qilu Pharmaceutical is temporary but will provide patients with a potentially life-extending drug.

“The public should rest assured that we will continue all efforts within our authority to help the industry that manufactures and distributes these drugs meet all patient needs for the oncology drugs impacted by shortages,” Califf said.

The public should rest assured that we will continue all efforts within our authority to help the industry that manufactures and distributes these drugs meet all patient needs for the oncology drugs impacted by shortages. https://t.co/8XvOuJzSL4

— Dr. Robert M. Califf (@DrCaliff_FDA) June 3, 2023

Foreign Desk News adds:

The latest move by the FDA is sure to spark concern and debate in Congress, as lawmakers in the House and Senate have called on the Biden administration to de-couple the U.S. economy from the Chinese markets, given Beijing’s aggressive push to expand in the South-China Sea and eventually take over the island state of Taiwan. China has also spread illegal and dangerous synthetic opioids and fentanyl drugs across the U.S. southern border, resulting in the devastating deaths of many Americans.