Health Care Sector Has Donated Millions Of Dollars To Key Lawmakers

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Also Included In: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry;  Public Health
Article Date: 10 Mar 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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Several members of Congress who are poised to play major roles in developing health care overhaul legislation have received millions of dollars in campaign contributions since 2005 from health care entities and individuals, according to a study scheduled for release on Monday, the Washington Post reports. For the study, the California-based advocacy group Consumer Watchdog used data from the Federal Election Commission to analyze the insurance and pharmaceutical sectors' campaign contributions.

The study found that the top 10 recipients of those contributions over the past four years received $2.2 million from insurance companies and their employees and $3.3 million from pharmaceutical companies and their employees. The study also found that the two sectors gave $546,000 to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.); $425,000 to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.); and $413,000 to Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.). In the House, Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) received $257,000 and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) received $249,000, while Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) received $104,000 from insurance companies and Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) received $180,000 from drugmakers. Although the study did not include President Obama because he no longer is a member of Congress, he received more than $2 million from individuals linked to the two health care sectors during his presidential campaign, the Post reports.

Consumer Watchdog representatives said the campaign contributions raise questions as to whether lawmakers will remain independent as they develop plans to overhaul the U.S. health care system. The health care sector has spent almost $1 billion on lobbying efforts in the last two years, and as health care overhaul discussions ramp up, various groups have increased their lobbying and campaign activities, the Post reports. Jerry Flanagan, a health care advocate for Consumer Watchdog, said, "The concern here is that money is buying influence and policy changes that help the industry but hurt the American people," adding, "They want a policy that requires Americans to buy their product."

According to Flanagan, Baucus -- who as chair of the Senate Finance Committee will have a large role in health reform talks -- was the top recipient in his party of health insurer and drug company contributions in the past four years. Baucus aides said that the senator has supported various health care policies that have been opposed by insurers and drugmakers, such as payment cuts under Medicare Advantage plans and proposals to import cheaper medications from Canada. Ty Matsdorf, a spokesperson for Baucus, said, "For 30 years, Max Baucus has only been influenced by one thing: what's right for Montana and what is right for the nation," adding, "Health care reform is the same. His only goal is to make sure that every American has access to quality, affordable health care."

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America President Billy Tauzin said, "We do what most people do in political systems: We support people with whom we agree and with whom we believe in," adding, "We also support other people who don't always agree with us but are honest and fair and open-minded" (Eggen, Washington Post, 3/8).

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