Drug benefits and special interests

[ProSense]

Opinion: Provisions Written by Special Interests Waste $80 Billion Annually on Drug Benefits

Posted on February 21, 2006:

Seniors Pay For Corruption; $96 Million In Political Contributions. Produce Higher Drug Prices, Record Profits.

"The new law is confusing and complicated because it was written to help big pharmaceutical companies instead of hard-working people who need prescription drugs to live. It's no surprise that top Republicans who wrote the bill work for the drug industry now. Thousands of people across the country are paying the price for this corruption at the pharmacy. They're getting over-charged and facing outrageous delays, if they're getting their prescriptions at all." --Toby Chaudhuri, Campaign for America's Future Communications Director

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INDUSTRY CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS

Institute for America's Future researchers found that, between 2000 and 2004, health insurance, health services and pharmaceutical companies contributed $96,370,907 to candidates for public office.

--71 percent of these funds went to Republicans. 38 percent went to Democrats. In the peak year (2002), 75 percent of the industry funds went to Republicans. Only 25 percent went to Democrats.

--In the 2004 presidential election, Health Insurance and Health Services/HMOs contributed nearly five times as much to George Bush than to John Kerry ($1,021,357 v. $211,900).

--Contributions grew 124 percent between 1998 and 2002 in anticipation of the vote (in 2003). The next election cycle (2004), contributions dropped 38 percent. Industry was satisfied and interest waned.

--Representatives who voted "Yes" on the Bush Prescription Drug Bill received a total of $6,075,520 from the pharmaceutical industry.

more...

http://somd.com/news/headlines/articles/3366.shtml