Detroit News Editorial the morning before Pfizer's announcement. Pfizer's Ann Arbor closure was predicted.

Detroit News, Monday, January 22, 2007,

"Attack on drug companies will send jobs out of state"

"U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow has long had the pharmaceutical industry in her sights and, with the shift in power in Congress, now has the support she needs to attack. That doesn't bode well for the more than 12,000 people who work for the pharmaceutical industry in Michigan. As a member of the Finance Committee, Stabenow can wield influence over Medicare and Medicaid policies and help shape regulations that affect everything from the research and development of new drugs to how companies advertise and sell their products. We're not encouraged by the preliminary reports from Washington. Democrats in Congress, being pressed by Stabenow and other outspoken critics of the pharmaceutical industry, are pushing legislation authorizing Medicare to negotiate prices with drug manufacturers. They also want wholesale investigations into the business practices of the drug companies.

Stabenow has supported tax incentives for Pfizer Inc.'s Michigan operations, which went toward research and development, but she remains at odds with the industry on a number of other issues. Fundamental change in how prescription drugs are distributed to the public is premature. Though the Medicare Part D drug plan has had its issues, reports show that seniors who have enrolled are saving money. And price controls, which is what will happen if government officials start negotiating prices for prescription drugs, have failed every time they've been implemented by populist politicians. They create shortages and take away the incentive for profit that companies use to invest in research and development. Much like her misguided and naïve attack on the oil industry, Stabenow fails to grasp the magnitude of the research and development and the risk pharmaceutical companies take to produce and market drugs to keep people healthier and alive longer. She also ignores the economic impact Pfizer Inc. has on the state.

The company employs more than 7,000 and has research laboratories and programs in Ann Arbor that specialize in drugs that treat cancer, heart and vascular disease, arthritis, skin disease and psychological disorders. Its jobs pay an average of $60,000 each, and the company works closely with the University of Michigan. Those are exactly the kind of jobs Michigan needs to turn itself away from the Rust Belt economy that has led it into this continued single-state recession. Stabenow should be leading the charge to bring more high-paying, high-education jobs from the pharmaceutical industry into Michigan, not working to kick them out. Of course, attacking the drug companies is easy and in vogue.

Much like the auto industry, the pharmaceutical industry is viewed as having deep pockets. That's why trial lawyers also attack it relentlessly. Instead of going after the alleged problem -- rules approved by the Food and Drug Administration that critics say are not stringent enough -- trial lawyers and politicians attack the companies. A better way to reduce drug costs is to stop the lawsuit abuse. Locally, state Democrats are vowing to repeal Michigan's law that grants immunity to drug companies if their products meet FDA standards.

The message these attacks send is clear: Michigan remains an unfriendly place in which to do business. What's worse, that charge is led by the very people who should be working to change the state's anti-business image. "

Title 15 -- Semiconductor Research

From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 20, 2004]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 20, 2004 and December 23, 2004]
[CITE: 15USC4603]

TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE

CHAPTER 72--SEMICONDUCTOR RESEARCH

SUBCHAPTER I--COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM

Sec. 4603. Semiconductor Technology Council
(a) Establishment
There is established the Semiconductor Technology Council.
(b) Purposes and functions
(1) The purposes of the Council are the following:
(A) To link assessment by the semiconductor industry of future
market and national security needs to opportunities for technology
development through cooperative public and private investment.
(B) To seek ways to respond to the technology challenges for
semiconductors by fostering precompetitive cooperation among
industry, the Federal Government, and institutions of higher
education.
(C) To make available judgments, assessments, insights, and
recommendations that relate to the opportunities for new research
and development efforts and the potential to better rationalize and
align industry and government contributions to semiconductor
research and development.
(2) The Council shall carry out the following functions:
(A) Advise Sematech and the Secretary of Defense on appropriate
technology goals and appropriate level of effort for the research
and development activities of Sematech.
(B) Review the emerging markets, technology developments, and
core technology challenges for semiconductor research and
development and semiconductor manufacturing and explore
opportunities for improved coordination among industry, the Federal
Government, and institutions of higher education regarding such
developments and challenges.
(C) Assess the effect on the appropriate role of Sematech of
public and private sector international agreements in semiconductor
research and development.
(D) Exchange views regarding the competitiveness of United
States semiconductor technology and new or emerging semiconductor
technologies that could affect national economic and security
interests.
(E) Exchange and update information and identify overlaps and
gaps regarding the efforts of industry, the Federal Government, and
institutions of higher education in semiconductor research and
development.
(F) Assess technology progress relative to industry requirements
and Federal Government requirements, responding as appropriate to
the challenges in the national semiconductor technology roadmap
developed by representatives of industry, the Federal Government,
and institutions of higher education.
(G) Make recommendations regarding the semiconductor technology
development efforts that should be supported by Federal agencies and
industry.
(H) Appoint subgroups as appropriate in connection with the
updating of the semiconductor technology roadmap.
(I) Publish and submit to Congress by March 31 of each year an
annual report addressing the semiconductor technology challenges and
developments for industry, government, and institutions of higher
education and the relationship among the challenges and developments
for each, including an evaluation of the role of Sematech.
(c) Membership
The Council shall be composed of 16 members as follows:
(1) The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology,
and Logistics who shall be Cochairman of the Council.
(2) The Under Secretary of Energy responsible for science and
technology matters.
(3) The Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology.
(4) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
(5) The Assistant to the President for Economic Policy.
(6) The Director of the National Science Foundation.
(7) Ten members appointed by the President as follows:
(A) Four individuals who are eminent in the semiconductor
device industry, one of whom shall be Cochairman of the Council.
(B) Two individuals who are eminent in the semiconductor
equipment and materials industry.
(C) Three individuals who are eminent in the semiconductor
user industry, including representatives from the
telecommunications and computer industries.
(D) One individual who is eminent in an academic
institution.
(d) Terms of membership
Each member of the Council appointed under subsection (c)(7) of this
section shall be appointed for a term of three years, except that of the
members first appointed, two shall be appointed for a term of one year,
five shall be appointed for a term of two years, and three shall be
appointed for a term of three years, as designated by the President at
the time of appointment. A member of the Council may serve after the
expiration of the member's term until a successor has taken office.
(e) Vacancies
A vacancy in the Council shall not affect its powers but, in the
case of a member appointed under subsection (c)(7) of this section,
shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made.
Any member appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term shall be
appointed for the remainder of such term.
(f) Quorum
Eleven members of the Council shall constitute a quorum.
(g) Meetings
The Council shall meet at the call of a Cochairman.
(h) Compensation
(1) Each member of the Council shall serve without compensation.
(2) While away from their homes or regular places of business in the
performance of duties for the Council, members of the Council shall be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at
rates authorized for employees of agencies under sections 5702 and 5703
of title 5.
(i) Federal Advisory Committee Act
Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to
the Council.
(j) Support for Council
The Council shall use Federal funds made available to Sematech as
needed for general and administrative support in accomplishing the
Council's purposes.
(Pub. L. 100-180, div. A, title II, Sec. 273, Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat.
1070; Pub. L. 102-245, title I, Sec. 103(e), Feb. 14, 1992, 106 Stat. 9;
Pub. L. 103-160, div. A, title II, Sec. 263(b), (c)(3)-(e), Nov. 30,
1993, 107 Stat. 1608, 1610; Pub. L. 103-337, div. A, title II, Sec. 251,
Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2702; Pub. L. 106-65, div. A, title IX,
Sec. 911(a)(1), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 717.)
References in Text
Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, referred to in
subsec. (i), is section 14 of Pub. L. 92-463, which is set out in the
Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Amendments
1999--Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 106-65 substituted ``Under Secretary
of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics'' for ``Under
Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology''.
1994--Subsec. (b)(2)(I). Pub. L. 103-337 inserted ``and submit to
Congress by March 31 of each year'' after ``Publish''.
1993--Pub. L. 103-160, Sec. 263(b), substituted ``Semiconductor
Technology Council'' for ``Advisory Council'' in section catchline.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103-160, Sec. 263(b), added subsec. (a) and
struck out former subsec. (a) which read as follows: ``There is
established the Advisory Council on Federal Participation in Sematech.''
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103-160, Sec. 263(b), added subsec. (b) and
struck out former subsec. (b) which related to the functions of the
Advisory Council of Federal Participation in Sematech.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103-160, Sec. 263(b), added subsec. (c) and
struck out former subsec. (c) which related to the membership of the
Advisory Council on Federal Participation in Sematech.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103-160, Sec. 263(c)(3)(A), substituted
``subsection (c)(7)'' for ``subsection (c)(6)'' and ``five shall be
appointed for a term of two years'' for ``two shall be appointed for a
term of two years''.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103-160, Sec. 263(c)(3)(B), substituted
``subsection (c)(7)'' for ``subsection (c)(6)''.
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 103-160, Sec. 263(c)(3)(C), substituted
``Eleven members'' for ``Seven members''.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 103-160, Sec. 263(d), substituted ``a
Cochairman'' for ``the Chairman or a majority of its members''.
Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 103-160, Sec. 263(e), added subsec. (j).
1992--Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 102-245 substituted ``Technology'' for
``Economic Affairs''.
Termination of Advisory Council on Federal Participation in Sematech
Section 263(a) of Pub. L. 103-160 provided that: ``The advisory
council known as the Advisory Council on Federal Participation in
Sematech, established by section 273 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 (15 U.S.C. 4603), is
hereby terminated.''
First Meeting of Semiconductor Technology Council
Section 263(f) of Pub. L. 103-160 provided that: ``The first meeting
of the Semiconductor Technology Council shall be held not later than 45
days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 30, 1993].''
References to Terminated Council
Section 263(g) of Pub. L. 103-160 provided that: ``A reference in
any provision of law to the Advisory Council on Federal Participation in
Sematech shall be deemed to refer to the Semiconductor Technology
Council established by section 273 of the National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 [15 U.S.C. 4603], as amended by
subsection (b).''