| The U.S. spends more on medicines than any other country in the world, and has weathered decades of furor over the rising cost of drugs. That's led Democrats and Republicans alike to tout proposals to lower prices from the campaign trail, the debate stage, and the echoing halls of Congress. Finally, at the outset of 2020, the prospect of bipartisan reform appeared to be peeking over the horizon. That is, until a pandemic swept the country. Now, as drugmakers invest billions of dollars and dedicate their top scientists to delivering therapies and vaccines to stop the spread of Covid-19, a "halo effect" has come over the industry. Washington is banking that these experimental medicines will return global markets and the U.S. economy to a state of normalcy. And as the industry seizes the moment to transform its image from price-gougers to virus-conquering scientists, Congress appears to have lost leverage to rein in prices.  Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, at a hearing in June. Photographer: Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo That's a problem for Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Republican co-sponsor of a bipartisan bill that would penalize drugmakers for raising the prices of medicines past the rate of inflation. Two powerful trade organizations, PhRMA and BIO, say the Senate Finance Committee legislation needs to be reconsidered in light of the pandemic, as it would hamper much-needed innovation at a critical time. It's not a new argument for the industry, but its tenor lands differently amid a health crisis. Grassley, however, vehemently disputes the idea of putting the proposals on pause. He says affordability is even more important as Americans grapple with the unanswered question of how much Covid-19 drugs and vaccines will actually cost. Though the clock is ticking on his long-delayed bill, the Iowan says he's aiming to work it into the next phase of coronavirus relief legislation. With Trump's backing, he's optimistic. But will that be enough to slip past a powerful lobby operating in its prime?—Riley Griffin and Emma Court | 
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