They call it a free market. I call it a cartel.

Please let me explain. [Lucas Kunce for U.S. Senate] {NAME} — many Missourians spend weeks or months trying to get the drugs they need. They pay more for them too, if they’re lucky enough to get them at all. Big Pharma bankrupts and kills us, and Washington lets them get away with it. They call it a free market. I call it a cartel. Please let me explain: [USA Today chart: Millions of Americans face prescription medication shortages. In Missouri, 60% delayed or stopped use. 28% had negative health impacts. 33% faced mental duress. 21% spent more on substitute medication.]( Just three wholesalers control about 90% of drug distribution for pharmacies. A handful of giant overseas corporations control 80% of our drug supply chain. And now we have drug shortages for everything from cancer drugs to Adderall. Everyday people suffer, some even die, but Big Pharma will still get record profits — that's what monopoly power looks like. [CNN Health article: Drug shortages may mean difference between life or death for some US patients, experts say.]( The facts are clear on this: We CAN make these essential drugs in America and get them to those who need them. But Big Pharma chooses not to. To their top executives and biggest elite shareholders, record-breaking profits matter more than the shortages that cost Americans their lives and livelihoods. And, of course, there’s a reason our politicians haven’t already done something big about these drug shortages. Money. That's why my campaign doesn’t take a cent from Big Pharma executives. And it's the reason I’m fighting to ban stock ownership for members of Congress, judges, and regulators (including fake “blind” trusts). [Center for Responsive Politics and Fair Warning chart: Megabucks for Lobbying: The drug industry rivals the insurance industry as the biggest spender on lobbying in Washington...]( Skyrocketing prices and record shortages for essential drugs are more than just cause for concern — that’s a CRISIS. Congress MUST act. If Big Pharma won't get us the drugs we need, America needs to start making them ourselves. That’s why when I’m in the U.S. Senate, I'll file legislation to change Big Pharma's incentives. I’ll fight to make sure that when Big Pharma fails to deliver essential drugs to the Americans who need them, they won't just have to worry about bad press or long lines… They'll risk losing that market to a new Made-In-America competitor with generic prices. With my plan, America will find, build, or modify the facilities necessary to make the essential drugs Big Pharma is failing to deliver (right now, 30% of American pharmaceutical manufacturing sites are already at or below 50% utilization). Then we’ll find the businesses and workers to run them on contracts that put patriotism over extreme profits. We’ll have American-made drugs that Americans can actually afford. And we'll make them in places like Missouri, where we need good jobs and we already have the bio-pharma infrastructure to get it done. When we cut through the corporate corruption and political phoniness that’s gripping Washington, there is so much we can achieve for Missouri and our entire country — creating jobs, getting people the medications they need at a price they can afford, and building up the American workers and businesses that make our nation strong. [So {NAME}, will you help me take this fight to the U.S. Senate by adding a donation of $10 or any amount you think is best toward my campaign today? I don’t take a single cent from corporate PACs so that when I’m elected, I’ll always work for real people like you.]( If you've stored your info with ActBlue Express, we'll process your contribution instantly: [Contribute $10]( [Contribute $25]( [Contribute $30]( [Contribute $50]( [Contribute $100]( [Contribute $250]( [Give another amount]( {NAME}, unlike Josh Hawley, I’m not afraid to call these companies out for what they are: A dangerous cartel that’s exploiting everyday Americans. When I’m elected to the U.S. Senate, I’ll work to do more than just break up Big Pharma and make sure Americans can access the life-saving drugs they need — I’ll fight to see these corrupt corporations prosecuted for what they've done to us. And I can promise you this: I’ll fight like hell against any corrupt politician who gets in my way — in OUR way. Thanks for always standing with me, Lucas Kunce [Donate]( [Like on Facebook]( [Follow on Twitter]( [Follow on Instagram]( Paid for by Lucas Kunce for Missouri This email was sent to [{EMAIL}](#). Email is the most important way we keep in touch with people like you. But, if you'd like to receive fewer emails, [you can do so here](. If you need to remove yourself from our email list, [click here to unsubscribe](. Mail us: PO BOX 1240 Independence, MO 64050. Use of military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform do not imply endorsement by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense.