On his inaugural day in Congress, Minnesota Rep. Brad Finstad took a controversial stance by voting against legislation aimed at reducing prescription drug prices. This decision marked the beginning of his pattern of voting against measures intended to make healthcare more affordable.
Finstad’s official entry into the House occurred on August 12, 2022, following his victory in a special election to fill the seat left vacant by the late Rep. Jim Hagedorn. On the same day, he cast his vote against the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a bill that sought to limit insulin costs for Medicare beneficiaries to $35 per month.
The legislation also sought to extend tax subsidies that enabled approximately 89,000 Minnesotans to acquire insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.
Finstad described his opposition to the IRA as a decision rooted in “common sense.”
Subsequently, Finstad endorsed the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), which proposes reducing Medicare funding by $1 trillion over a decade to facilitate tax breaks for affluent individuals and major corporations. This move potentially endangers the health insurance coverage of approximately 15,000 of his constituents.
Finstad stated that the OBBB secured “wins for southern Minnesotans and the American people.”
According to campaign finance records, Finstad received $2,000 from pharmaceutical industry lobbyists shortly before and after his vote in favor of the OBBB.
A similar pattern emerged in December 2023 when Finstad accepted $1,500 from a lobbyist for pharmacy benefit managers prior to opposing a bill designed to enforce price transparency reforms within the industry. Finstad was among only 40 House Republicans to vote against this measure.
Pharmacy benefit managers act as intermediaries between insurance plans, pharmacies, and drug manufacturers. Critics argue that their business model encourages high drug prices and restricts patient access to care.
Finstad is currently campaigning for a second full term, facing off against Democratic contender and high school teacher Jake Johnson.
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