Bernstein dumps $100,000 in cash in front of Reno drug company

RENO - U.S. Senate hopeful Ed Bernstein dumped $100,000 in cash in front of a Reno drug distribution center to dramatize his opponent's ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

The Las Vegas Democrat said the $100,000 dumped Thursday in front of Merck & Co. represents the amount of campaign contributions Republican John Ensign has received from the industry over his political career.

Two guards in an armored car delivered the bundle of cash. 0 ''Let me show you how much $100,000 is,'' Bernstein said as he dumped the cash on a table. ''This is how much John Ensign has taken from drug companies.

''I don't believe that John Ensign can have it both ways anymore. This drug industry money stands against working families, against seniors, against Americans getting affordable prescription drugs.''

Ensign, a former two-term congressman from Las Vegas, criticized Bernstein's news conference.

''This is an ugly personal attack that has no place in politics,'' he said.

Ensign cited his 1996 vote against a $10.5 billion tax credit for pharmaceutical companies as evidence of his independence.

''It was their single-biggest issue when I was in Congress and I voted against them because I vote for what I think is right,'' he said.

Merck spokeswoman Sharon Burse declined comment other than to say her company supports Ensign.

The Whitehouse Station, N.J.-based company accounts for $10,000 of the $41,000 in contributions Ensign received from drug companies this campaign.

Merck also gave him $4,999 for his unsuccessful 1998 race against Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and $2,000 for his successful 1996 House race.

Bernstein, who has vowed not to accept contributions from drug companies, has tried to make the cost of prescription drugs the defining issue in his race to succeed Sen. Richard Bryan who is retiring.

Last week, Bernstein led an entourage of senior citizens to Tijuana, Mexico to buy prescription drugs for a fraction of what they cost in the United States.

This week, his so-called ''Rx RV'' Road Tour kicked off in Las Vegas and is making stops in towns across northern Nevada.

He's meeting with seniors to discuss his crusade to reduce the cost of prescription drugs.

''The buck stops here - I will not allow drug companies to run roughshod over our seniors and gamble with their health,'' Bernstein said.

''I will not stand on the side of special interests and drug companies, but on the side of Nevada's seniors. Because making prescription drugs affordable is just too important.''

Bernstein called the $100,000 in cash ''chump change'' for the pharmaceutical industry, saying it spent $90 million on 1998 elections.

Drug companies' profits range from 18 percent to 20 percent, he said.