Emailed Walt: “THIS IS ABOUT PREVENTING CANCER. THIS IS NOT ABOUT SEX.”

The aides were dismissive of the notion that the policy was a favor to the drugmaker.

Brandon LeBlanc, the governor’s community affairs public liaison, forwarded to fellow senior staffers an article quoting critics’ who “point out that the legislation right now benefits just one pharmaceutical firm, Merck & Co.”

“Please give the number of the poor little pharmaceutical firm that thinks this is unfair,” he quipped.