New Jersey senator Cory Booker has been exalted as the next Barack Obama by some in the Democratic establishment, but a recent move to block cheaper prescription drugs has some wondering if he’ll be able to inspire the same hope for change that his predecessor was able to ride to the White House in 2008.

Cory Booker is facing criticism for a blocking a move which would have allowed Americans access to cheaper prescription drugs in Canada. [Image by Alex Wong/Getty Images]

The controversy centers around an amendment proposed by Sen. Amy Klobuchar [D-MN] on Wednesday which sought to lower prescription drug prices in the United States by easing import restrictions with Canada. While she was able to drum up support from some Republicans, including Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, the amendment eventually failed because of a lack of consensus among Democrats; one of whom was Cory Booker.

Why do Americans pay so much more than Canadians for prescription drugs? Because the pharmaceutical industry has bought the US Congress. pic.twitter.com/Si8q8otWj5 — Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) January 12, 2017

Progressive voices in the media immediately seized on the action as evidence of Cory’s commitment to the interests of pharmaceutical companies; a claim that was made with significant circumstantial evidence. First of all, Booker has taken more money than any other Democrat in Congress from the drug industry. According to transparency organization Map Light, he has received a total of $267,338 since 2013. That’s more than anyone except for Republicans Orrin G. Hatch and Mitch McConnell.

Furthermore, Cory has some key constituents who will lose out if Canada is allowed to export cheaper prescription drugs. Namely, a large list of biotech companies that operate in New Jersey. Some of which, like Merck and Celgene, also appear on his list of donors.

While some have criticized Cory for trying to slip tacit support for Big Pharma through unnoticed, the New Jersey senator answered several questions yesterday on Twitter about his vote. Booker sought to justify his stance by claiming that the amendment would not meet FDA standards, saying that his motivation was to keep Americans safe. He cited another amendment presented later in the session, which he did vote in favor of, that would allow imported Canadian drugs pending a safety certification.

.@LaurenLovesWI I unequivocally support drug imports to lower cost but plan must include protections so foreign drugs meet safety standards. — Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) January 12, 2017

.@LaurenLovesWI I and some other Dems didn’t believe ast night’s amendment met this test — Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) January 12, 2017

.@LaurenLovesWI We must find solutions that allow for prescription drug importation with adequate safety standards. — Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) January 12, 2017

While Cory did not specifically address the money that he had taken from pharmaceutical manufacturing, he at least referred to the specter of “big Pharma” hanging over the whole ordeal. Booker claimed that he had certainly not given up the fight against such corporations, and he had more action planned for the future that would dispel all doubt that he was under their control.

.@LaurenLovesWI There’s more we must do to lower costs that Pharma won’t like. We need much more action than this. I will fight for this. — Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) January 12, 2017

Still, many critics claim that the safety concern argument does not hold up. Canada has an extremely well-regulated pharmaceutical industry that often takes even longer to approve prescription drugs than its American counterpart, according to a 2012 ASCO University study. A significant amount of these drugs are also actually reimported after being manufactured in the U.S., but sell for lower prices from Canadian retailers due to less flexible pricing restrictions, according to another study published by Dove Press in 2007.

It’s not a radical idea to import medication from Canada, where they pay a lot less for the exact same drugs. 72% of Americans support it. pic.twitter.com/m5kzJEI3iw — Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) January 12, 2017

Of the Democrats who voted against the amendment, Cory Booker might be the most high profile and the largest beneficiary of pharmaceutical drug companies, but he certainly wasn’t the only one. In fact, all 13 of those senators who voted against the amendment have received at least some money from prescription drug companies. The amount does, however, vary significantly. Some, like Heidi Heitkamp, took only around $30,000, which is just double the $15,000 that the amendment’s author Klobuchar has received.

Michael Bennett (D-CO) — $222,000

Cory Booker (D-NJ) — $267,338

Maria Cantwell (D-WA) — $25,600

Tom Carper (D-DE) — $210,000

Bob Casey (D-PA) — $250,730

Chris Coons (D-DE) — $217,150

Joe Donnelly (D-IN) — $111,312

Martin Heinrich (D-NM) — $61,302

Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) — $32,750

Bob Menedez (D-NJ) — $191,400

Patty Murray (D-WA) — $254,649

Jon Tester (D-MT) — $77,250

Mark Warner (D-VA) — $89,800

If Cory Booker does decide to campaign for the presidency in 2020, bad press on a cheaper prescription drugs vote is unlikely to be his final blow. He faced an uphill struggle to win Newark mayor that was immortalized in the critically acclaimed documentary, Street Fight. After his win, he also faced corruption in his administration and disillusionment from locals, reported The Daily Beast.

[Featured Image by RoschetzkyProductions/Shutterstock]