Health Care Lobbying Spending Rose To Record Heights In 2009, Report Finds
Spending for lobbying rose 5 percent to "nearly $3.5 billion last year, as the Obama administration and Congress tackled health care, energy policy and financial regulation," an analysis released today by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics shows, USA Today On Politics reports (Schouten, 2/12).
The Hill: "The healthcare debate took up much of the oxygen in Washington last year. So not surprisingly, the pharmaceutical and health products industry spent a record amount last year - close to $266.8 million - on federal lobbying. That is the biggest lobbying expenditure ever by a single industry in one year, according to the report" (Bogardus, 2/12).
Bloomberg/BusinessWeek: "The drug industry's trade group, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, spent $26.2 million, 30 percent higher than 2008 " The organization "was one of six groups that lobbied on health care among the top 10 spenders last year. The others were the U.S. Chamber; New York-based Pfizer Inc., which spent $24.6 million; Chicago-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and its members, $22.7 million; Washington-based AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, $21 million; and the Chicago-based American Medical Association, $20.8 million" (Salant, 2/12).