Chapter 511 - 237: Shattered Cabinet Dream
Four days later. Harrisburg, the Lieutenant Governor’s Office.
Aston Monroe held a copy in his hand.
It was the final draft of the Medicine Benefits Transparency and Fairness Bill.
Governor Bob Campbell was clearly very pleased with this bill.
He had taken the framework Leo provided, smoothed out some of the rough edges, and added a whole set of regulatory procedures he was proud of.
Monroe closed the folder and casually tossed it on the desk.
Campbell thought it was a safety lock, but in Monroe’s hands, it was a poison pill capable of blowing up the Governor’s Mansion.
Yesterday, the draft bill had been published online for all Pennsylvanians to download and review.
After a day had passed, Monroe felt the time was right.
Monroe picked up his phone and made a call.
"Hello, Hank."
A noisy background came from the other end of the line, sounding like a boisterous bar.
The man on the line was Hank Miller, president of the Philadelphia police union and Monroe’s most effective political enforcer among the blue-collar class.
"Mr. Vice Governor?" Hank’s voice immediately became respectful. "What are your orders?"
"I’ve got a job for you."
Monroe’s voice was calm.
"First thing tomorrow morning, I need you to go to Harrisburg."
"Bring your guys. No uniforms, wear plain clothes. Find the loudest, most hot-tempered ones."
"Go to the front of the State Capitol Building."
Hank was taken aback for a moment. "What for? A demonstration?"
"Yes, a demonstration."
"I want you to go and support that medical mutual aid bill from Pittsburgh."
"You’ll do it under Leo Wallace’s banner. Banners, signs, slogans—use all of Wallace’s stuff."
"Remember, you’re fanatical supporters of Wallace."
"You need to act angry, act like you’ve lost your minds."
"If anyone tries to stop you, shove them, yell at them."
Hank hesitated. "But, boss, why are we building momentum for that mayor from Pittsburgh?"
"Just do as I say."
Monroe cut him off, his tone icy.
After hanging up on Hank, Monroe dialed another number.
It was a senior PR consultant from K Street who specialized in crisis management.
"Julian."
"I’m here."
"Did you get the draft of Campbell’s bill?"
"Got it, Vice Governor." Julian’s voice was sharp and shrewd. "Our people are analyzing it clause by clause."
"Stop the analysis."
Monroe sneered.
"Focus on Chapter Four, Article Twelve."
"The clause about the medicine procurement review committee."
"That’s a regulatory measure Campbell specifically added to make himself look objective and fair."
"In his eyes, it’s a firewall against corruption."
"But in our hands, it’s a poison pill."
Monroe gave his instructions.
"Starting now, mobilize all your media resources, all your sock puppet accounts."
"Spread the word."
"Tell everyone that so-called review committee is a sham."
"The committee’s list of members has already been decided behind closed doors. It’s full of former executives from major insurance companies and pharmaceutical reps."
"Campbell has no intention of lowering drug prices. He just wants to use this committee to legally transfer this massive procurement fund into the hands of his donors."
"He wants to turn the citizens’ life-saving money into a bureaucrat’s retirement fund."
"Spin this story well."
"By tomorrow morning, I want to see this story on the phone screen of every Pennsylvanian."
...
「The next morning.」 Harrisburg.
In the study of the Governor’s Mansion, Bob Campbell was enjoying his breakfast.
A piece of toast, a cup of black tea, and that day’s morning paper.
He was in a very good mood.
He felt he had done something great.
He had balanced the interests of all parties, responding to the public’s call for low-cost medicine while retaining control for the administrative system by establishing a regulatory committee.
He considered himself a political genius, capable of finding the perfect balance between radical reform and stable governance.
"Governor!"
His secretary rushed in, flustered, forgetting even to knock.
"Something’s happened."
The secretary handed Campbell a tablet, his finger trembling on the screen.
"Outside... it’s full of people outside."
Campbell frowned and put down his teacup.
"What people? Are they here to petition?"
"No, they’re here... they’re here to curse you out."
Campbell took the tablet.
On the screen was a live feed of the plaza in front of the State Capitol Building.
A dense crowd filled the entire plaza.
They were dressed in assorted work clothes, holding up huge banners.
The banners were emblazoned with shocking words in large letters:
"CAMPBELL IS A TRAITOR!"
"REJECT FAKE REFORM!"
"NO REGULATION, WE WANT MUTUAL AID!"
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF OUR LIFE-SAVING MONEY!"
Campbell was stunned.
He didn’t understand.
’I’m pushing for reform, helping these people save money... why are they calling me a traitor?’
He tapped on the news page next to the feed.
It showed headline articles published by several well-known radical independent media outlets.
Exclusive Exposé: The Shocking Conspiracy Behind the Campbell Bill.
The article used highly inflammatory language to detail the inside story of the regulatory committee.
"...the so-called review committee is, in reality, a mouthpiece for the insurance companies. They hold veto power and can arbitrarily reject any procurement plan that doesn’t align with the insurance companies’ interests."
"...according to an inside source, the chosen candidate for committee chairman is none other than the former vice president of a major medical insurance conglomerate."
"...Governor Campbell is pretending to support Leo Wallace’s Mutual Aid Alliance, but in reality, he’s putting it in shackles, ready to strangle the newborn infant at any moment."