The Price of Influence

from the Center for American Progress:

"Public Citizen today at noon will release a new study on how lobbying and campaign contributions by the health care and pharmaceutical industries produced a Medicare bill that showers those industries with taxpayer largesse, while leaving millions of seniors without comprehensive coverage.  In all, the industries spent $140 million to hire more than 900 lobbyists in 2003 an all-time high for those industries.  The Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which inserted provisions into the bill prohibiting the government from negotiating lower drug prices, shelled out more than $16 million alone - a major increase from just the year before.  Similarly, HMOs spent more than $32 million, and in return received a Medicare bill that encourages privatization, and sends an extra $46 billion to HMOs for prescription drug coverage 'even though the government could do it more efficiently and cheaply.'  In all, more than 20 executives and lobbyists from these industries achieved 'Ranger' or 'Pioneer' status by raising at least $200,000 or $100,000, respectively, for President Bush in the 2000 or 2004 campaigns.  The study will be available on Public Citizen's web site, www.citizen.org"