Pharmaceutical Industry Is Number One Lobbyist Spender

Big Pharma has contributed to Congress for many years. These donations are colossal. The industry will continue to influence legislation heavily, until some type of campaign reform is enacted.

TOP 12 CONTRIBUTIONS TO CONGRESS MEMBERS
1.  Orrin G Hatch (R-Utah Senate) – $1,547,963
2.  Arlen Specter (D-Pa Senate) – $1,547,963
3.  Max Baucus (D-Mont Senate) – $1,078,605
4.  Joe Barton (R-Texas House) – $945,738
5.  Richard Burr (R-NC Senate) – $912,497
6.  John McCain (R-Ariz Senate) – $877,965
7.  John Kerry (D-Mass Senate) – $872,793
8.  Tom Harkin (D-Iowa Senate) – $768,000
9.  John D Dingell (D-Mich House) – $732,734
10.  Roy Blunt (R-Mo House) – $698,722
11.  Mitch McConnell (R-Ky Senate) – $678,349
12.  Chris Dodd (D-Conn Senate) – $660,978
(Including Campaign Committees and PACs since 1989)
Source: Center For Responsive Politics

Big Pharma is a force to be reckoned with. Big Pharma is ranked as the number one  all-time spender, when it comes to lobbying efforts. Insurance comes in second place.

Big Pharma has spent $1.6 billion since 1998, making it the top spender. It spent $20.2 million in 2008 alone.

Big Pharma opposes any type of public healthcare platform. Mainly because, when the industry gets its way, there are no government price controls set on drugs. In Europe for instance, there are price controls set by government, and drugs are much cheaper.

Lobbying by the pharmaceutical industry is big business. Big business is what gets politicians elected. It’s hard for a Congress member, or even the president for that matter, to go cold turkey on big contributors that demand loyalty.

As long as this influence is permitted, don’t expect any healthcare reform that will benefit average Americans. In fact, a president could even set Americans back, if Big Pharma can twist legislation to benefit the industry.

But Rep. Anna Eshoo and Sen. Orrin Hatch say the donations have no bearing on policy decisions.