Re: Drugmakers go furthest to sway Congress -- L-O-N-G article

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the article. Have known there were plenty

of drug lobbyists. Have some articles below that add

to your topic. Rather than post them separately,

thought could just put them in one post. The last

article tells of the Hawaii trips.

____________________________________________

http://www.newstarget.com/000864.html

Tuesday, April 26, 2005 Commentary | Home

Drug companies spent $91 million on 675 lobbyists to

make sure Congress passed favorable laws

It's a medical racket of historic proportion,

involving the FDA, lawmakers, drug companies, health

insurance companies and many willing doctors. It

generates billions in profits in exchange for the

death and suffering of millions of Americans. It's bad

medicine, and it's time for serious health care

reform. If you find this article interesting, be sure

to also read 'Massive medical fraud exposed:

pharmaceutical company paid doctors to prescribe drugs

and run sham clinical trials.'

_________________________

June 23, 2003

Drug Industry Employs 675 Washington Lobbyists, Many

with Revolving-Door Connections, New Report Finds

Companion Study Shows That Top 10 Drug Companies Made

$36 Billion Last Year More Than Half of All Profits

Netted by Fortune 500 Companies

WASHINGTON, D.C. The drug industry spares no effort to

ensure that Congress does not encroach on its hefty

profits and the high prescription prices that support

them, according to a pair of Public Citizen reports

released today.

Public Citizen found that the drug industry hired 675

different lobbyists from 138 firms in 2002 nearly

seven lobbyists for each U.S. senator, according to

federal lobbying disclosure records. The industry

spent a record $91.4 million on lobbying activities in

2002, an 11.6 percent increase from 2001.

The pharmaceutical industry’s most significant victory

came in derailing efforts to include a prescription

drug benefit in the traditional Medicare program.

Instead, the industry pushed to have Medicare drug

coverage provided by private insurers and HMOs –

fracturing the bargaining power of the 41 million

Medicare beneficiaries in negotiating for lower

prices.

" The drug industry is winning the war on Capitol Hill

right now, " said Clemente, director of Public

Citizen’s Congress Watch. " The Medicare bills before

Congress provide drug coverage only through private

insurers not Medicare. This will safeguard their

astronomical profits for as far as the eye can see and

keep seniors and people with disabilities scrambling

to cover their prescription costs. "

Public Citizen’s new report, The Other Drug War 2003,

exposes the drug industry’s lobbying barrage. Among

its findings:

Drug industry lobbying ranks include 26 former members

of Congress. All told, 342 lobbyists (51 percent of

those employed by the industry) have " revolving door "

connections between K Street and the federal

government.

The Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America

(PhRMA), which represents more than 100 brand-name

prescription drug companies, shelled out $14.3 million

last year, a 26 percent increase from 2001 and nearly

double what the group spent in 2000. PhRMA hired 112

lobbyists in 2002, 30 more than the year before.

Brand-name drug manufacturers spent more than 20 times

as much on lobbying as generic drug-makers – $76

million versus $3.4 million. And they employed seven

lobbyists for every one hired by their generic

counterparts. Biotechnology companies spent $12

million on lobbying.

Since Public Citizen began tracking the drug

industry’s lobbying activities in 1997, the industry

has spent nearly $478 million lobbying the federal

government. In that same period, the top 25

pharmaceutical companies and trade groups gave $48.6

million to federal campaigns. Well over $100 million

more went to paying for issue ads, hiring academics,

funding nonprofits and other activities to promote the

industry’s agenda in Washington. All told, the drug

industry has spent nearly $650 million on political

influence since 1997.

The success drug companies have enjoyed in protecting

high prescription prices is reflected in annual

profitability rankings recently published by Fortune

magazine. In a year when the stock market remained

listless and company after company was wounded by

accounting scandals, the 10 drug companies in the

Fortune 500 maintained nearly the same level of total

profits in 2002 as in 2001.

According to Public Citizen’s report, 2002 Drug

Industry Profits:

As a group, the 10 drug companies in the Fortune 500

saw $35.9 billion in profits in 2002, a drop of 3.5

percent from 2001.

By comparison, all companies in the Fortune 500

suffered a combined loss of 66.3 percent in profits

from 2001 to 2002. The pharmaceutical industry soared

past other business sectors raking in profits

five-and-a-half times greater than the median for all

industries represented in the Fortune 500.

Profits registered by the 10 drug companies on the

list were equal to more than half the $69.6 billion in

profits netted by the entire roster of Fortune 500

companies when all losses are subtracted from all

gains.

" The drug industry contends that it needs high prices

to finance the discovery of new, innovative drugs, "

Clemente said. " But a closer look shows that

drug-makers make far more money in profits than they

spend on research and development. "

__________________________________

http://www.mercola.com/2003/jun/18/drug_industry.htm

Drug Industry Lobbyists Spending More to Influence

Congress

Drug industry lobbyists are spending more to influence

Congress, the states and even foreign governments to

fight price controls and other regulations on

prescription drugs.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of

America, known as PhRMA, will spend at least $150

million in 2004, according to confidential budget

documents.

This is a 23 percent increase over this year's budget

of $121.7 million.

The debate over drug costs and benefits is likely to

continue for some time, although Congressional leaders

have noted their intent to add drug benefits for the

elderly and reconstruct Medicare.

PhRMA gets close to all of its revenue from dues paid

by member companies. It plans to spend $1 million on

an " intellectual echo chamber of economists " to speak

against federal price control regulations.

For the fiscal year budget that begins on July 1, the

pharmaceutical lobby plans to spend $72.7 million to

lobby at the federal level, directed mainly at

Congress; $4.9 million to lobby the Food and Drug

Administration; and $48.7 million to lobby at the

state level.

Additionally, the budget allows $17.5 million to fight

price controls and protect patent rights in foreign

countries and in trade negotiations.

There is also money set aside " to change the Canadian

health care system " and discourage low-price drugs

from online pharmacies in Canada from reaching U.S.

customers. Canada offers health insurance to all

citizens but limits drug prices.

Since 1999 the federal affairs staff at PhRMA has

quadrupled, from five employees to 20. The

organization plans to spend $5 million for lobbyists

at the federal level and $3.1 million to retain more

than 60 lobbyists in the 50 states.

Additionally, PhRMA plans to spend $12.3 million to

develop coalitions and strategic alliances with

doctors, patients, universities and leading members of

minority groups.

____________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JUNE 13, 2002

10:32 AM

CONTACT: Public Citizen

202-588-7742

Biggest Drug Companies Expand Lobbying Army in 2001

New Report Shows Size, Strength, Connections of Drug

Lobby as House Takes Up Medicare Rx Drug Legislation

WASHINGTON - June 13 - In 2001, the drug industry’s

army of lobbyists easily outnumbered all 535 members

of Congress as pharmaceutical companies employed 623

different hired guns, according to a new Public

Citizen report based on newly available data. These

same drug lobbyists are expected to swarm Capitol Hill

next week as the House Energy and Commerce and the

House Ways and Means committees begin to mark up

Medicare prescription drug legislation.

____________________________

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30A13FE3F540C758DDDAB0994DC40448\

2

NATIONAL DESK | December 16, 2004, Thursday

House's Author Of Drug Benefit Joins Lobbyists

By ROBERT PEAR (NYT) 1068 words

Late Edition - Final , Section A , Page 1 , Column 5

ABSTRACT - Rep Tauzin, principal author of new

Medicare drug law, will become president of chief

lobby for brand-name drug companies, Pharmaceutical

Research and Manufacturers of America; drug makers say

job is not reward for his work on Medicare bill, which

followed industry's specifications in many respects;

bill was signed into law by Pres Bush weeks before

Tauzin's lawyer began talks with drug trade group;

Tauzin, onetime Democrat who became Republican in

1995, has announced his retirement from Congress,

where he has served for 24 years and has wealth of

connections; he is latest policy maker to move from

government to industry; Bush administration's main

negotiator with Congress on drug bill, A

Scully, has registered as lobbyist for some major drug

companies after getting waiver of federal ethics rules

that permitted him to negotiate with potential

employers while still running Medicare program (M)

________________________

http://www.newstarget.com/001298.html

I've seen it myself: a room-full of doctors in Hawaii,

ditching a drug company sponsored " education " event,

where airfare and hotels were provided for free. Why

were the doctors ditching the class? Because they

wanted to have fun in Hawaii, and attendance wasn't

required after the first hour. It's basically just a

paid vacation scam, courtesy of the pharmaceutical

company. And it's happening every day, right now.

rescription drugs are so profitable -- some drugs are

now sold at more than 500,000% markup over the actual

cost of their raw ingredients -- that drug companies

will do practically anything to sell more pills. They

invent fictitious diseases and urge doctors and

parents to dose their children with powerful

narcotics. They conduct fraudulent clinical trials,

making sure to bury any negative results that would

show how dangerous their drugs really are. They buy

the favor of the media by pumping hundreds of millions

of dollars into magazine, television, newspaper and

online advertising. They pressure the FDA into

delaying the ban on extremely dangerous drugs in order

to squeeze out another twelve months of profits even

while patients are dying from drug-induced liver

failure.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Another wowza! Growing up, I've never been one who cared anything

about politics. It has only been in the last few years in reading

fiction books by some of my fave authors ( North ,

Brad Meltzer, Grisham) did I learn the intricacies of how

government and corporations work. Let's just say appalled is a good

word & leave it at that.

> Thanks for the article. Have known there were plenty

> of drug lobbyists. Have some articles below that add

> to your topic. Rather than post them separately,

> thought could just put them in one post. The last

> article tells of the Hawaii trips.

> ____________________________________________

> http://www.newstarget.com/000864.html

> Tuesday, April 26, 2005 Commentary | Home

> Drug companies spent $91 million on 675 lobbyists to

> make sure Congress passed favorable laws

> It's a medical racket of historic proportion,

> involving the FDA, lawmakers, drug companies, health

> insurance companies and many willing doctors. It

> generates billions in profits in exchange for the

> death and suffering of millions of Americans. It's bad

> medicine, and it's time for serious health care

> reform. If you find this article interesting, be sure

> to also read 'Massive medical fraud exposed:

> pharmaceutical company paid doctors to prescribe drugs

> and run sham clinical trials.'

> _________________________

> June 23, 2003

> Drug Industry Employs 675 Washington Lobbyists, Many

> with Revolving-Door Connections, New Report Finds

[Guest guest]

,

I have had some interest in politics, but never really

got ito the nitty gritty of things. I know know how

and why Monsanto got saccarin, sweetn low, and now

splenda thru, when the plant I was at buried that

dept.

BTW: And now medicare is using other insurance

companies to handle claims. Mutual of Omaha is one.

he A net acquaintance whom has cerebral palsey, is 40

and medicaid was slashed in his state. He is at a loss

as what he is going to do. :-( I at one time was on

medicaid, ended up in the hospital, and the remaining

food stamps which I hadn't been able to use, were

taken back by the state. I knew the Gov was messing

with our

health care system, but not to the extent we are

finding out. :-( Am sickened at what this world has

come to.

--- xhannahx24 <xhannahx24@...> wrote:

> Another wowza! Growing up, I've never been one who

> cared anything about politics. It has only been in

the last few years in reading

> fiction books by some of my fave authors (

> North , Brad Meltzer, Grisham) did I

learn the intricacies of how government and

corporations work. Let's just say

> appalled is a good word & leave it at that.

>

>

>

>

>

> > Thanks for the article. Have known there were

> plenty

> > of drug lobbyists. Have some articles below that

> add

> > to your topic. Rather than post them separately,

> > thought could just put them in one post. The last

> > article tells of the Hawaii trips.

> > ____________________________________________

> > http://www.newstarget.com/000864.html

> > Tuesday, April 26, 2005 Commentary | Home

> > Drug companies spent $91 million on 675 lobbyists

> to

> > make sure Congress passed favorable laws

> > It's a medical racket of historic proportion,

> > involving the FDA, lawmakers, drug companies,

> health

> > insurance companies and many willing doctors. It

> > generates billions in profits in exchange for the

> > death and suffering of millions of Americans. It's

> bad

> > medicine, and it's time for serious health care

> > reform. If you find this article interesting, be

> sure

> > to also read 'Massive medical fraud exposed:

> > pharmaceutical company paid doctors to prescribe

> drugs

> > and run sham clinical trials.'

> > _________________________

> > June 23, 2003

> > Drug Industry Employs 675 Washington Lobbyists,

> Many

> > with Revolving-Door Connections, New Report Finds

>

>

>

>

>

>

>