Health Care Lobbyists Dump Buckets of Money on Congress

[Joanne98]

The largest medical insurers and drug companies spent 41% more on lobbying this year as Congress began debate on an overhaul of health care, which may include a public insurance plan the industries oppose.

The overwhelming amount of money we have spent is in support of comprehensive health care reform," said Johnson, whose group spent $6.9 million in 2009, up 91% from 2008. "There are certainly aspects … troubling to us, including the public option."

Pfizer's lobbying more than doubled to $6.1 million, and Merck's increased 44% to $1.5 million.

"We believe that the private health care marketplace fosters competition, innovation and consumer choice," read a Merck statement. A Pfizer statement read, "We are committed to making our voice heard and to be constructively engaged" in the debate.

Richard Kirsch of Health Care for America Now, a coalition of unions and non-profits supporting public insurance, said he is "extraordinarily worried" about the lobbying by those opposed to a public plan. "The other side is going to be out-spending us inside the Beltway," he said.

Outside Washington, an alliance of groups that support public insurance, including Kirsch's, vowed to spend $82 million on community organizing and advertising this year. Some have spent more on lobbying, too. The Service Employees International Union, for instance, increased spending 46% to $690,131, lobbying reports show.

All health sectors spent $149 million on lobbying this year, a 10% jump, according to CQ MoneyLine, a non-partisan website. Overall spending on lobbying is down 2.6% this year, according to the site.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2009-06-11-lobby_N.htm

[Thrill]

1. Assholes are bought and paid for. I bet Baucus and Conrad

are loaded with this money to block a Public Option.

Not sure if there is anything we can do. Guys like Conrad, Baucus, Landreiu, etc...don't need the progressives and liberals to win their elections in their states.