PhRMA Spent $6.2M Lobbying In 2Q

WASHINGTON - The pharmaceutical industry's primary trade group spent nearly $6.2 million lobbying in the second quarter on health care reform provisions, confirmation of two top federal officials and other issues, according to a recent disclosure report.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America spent about $5 million on lobbying in the year-ago period. The group's members include drug giants Pfizer Inc., Merck & Co., Johnson & Johnson and more than two dozen other U.S. and foreign companies.

Comments

[johnashman]

07:57 PM on 08/22/2009

How much did Barack Obama spend in one TV buy to lobby for his job?

When he was already assured of victory? When that money could have been donated to charity or paid the healthcare bills of hundreds of catastrophic cases?

And how much has Obama convinced PhRMA to spend to lobby on his behalf? 20 times that.

Who owns whom here? Did PhRMA buy Obama, or did Obama buy PhRMA?

[cjt1957]

09:21 PM on 08/21/2009

I wonder how much Obama has spent "lobbying" for health care. Of course he is spending our money dirrectly as tax payers. He has spent well over 6 million on fuel for Air Force 1 alone. So much for his "Carbon foot print".....

[JNarragansett]

03:29 PM on 08/21/2009

When you set up a system in which success depends more on your ability to influence lawmakers in Washington than your ability to make a product that people want at a price they are willing to pay, what do you expect? It's a simple fact that the more government control, the more you can expect to see spent on lobbying.

[espressobeans]

03:16 PM on 08/21/2009

Nice deal. They get to use money they ripped off of us to argue for a continued rip off. Citizen groups don't have that kind of clout.

[jsgaetano]

05:06 PM on 08/21/2009

That's how the "Conservative Movement" operates: steal money, use it as bribes to steal even more money.

[MikeDu]

01:36 AM on 08/21/2009

I'm not entirely positive, but i *believe* lobbying and advertising gets lumped in under Big Pharma's catch-all term "Research and Development". So the next time they're on the hill claiming they need a 300%+ markup on their meds because of their burdonsome 'development costs' think Viagara ads airing during superbowl halftime, and briefcases full of unmarked bills to your favorite blue dog. There goes the development money.

[One more Thing]

12:36 AM on 08/21/2009

I thought Obama was going to curb lobbyists spending?

I guess bringing the Bush Administration criminals to justice is getting all his attention while congress works on a non-healthcare no plan.

[espressobeans]

03:17 PM on 08/21/2009

I wish he would. And I wish there was full disclosure. Every time a politician speaks on the subject of health care reform, the money they've taken should be disclosed in the next sentence.

[Lahonda]

12:04 AM on 08/21/2009

Has anyone got the stats recent enough to show any correlation between big pharma's media advertising buying profile compared to dates of recent health care reform campaigns?

The MSM may be bought through simple business dealings as well.

[OpposingViewpoint]

12:08 AM on 08/21/2009

I don't, but like you, I would love to see the data.

[OpposingViewpoint]

12:00 AM on 08/21/2009

The truth is both sides of the aisle are owned by the industry our Congress proclaims it is trying to reform. Thus far for the 2010 election cycle Big Pharm has "contributed" just over $4M to Congressional candidates, 54% to dems, 45% to repubs. During the 2008 cycle, the Pahrm sector contributed over $29M to Congressional candidates, 50% to dems, 50% to repubs.
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=H04

Health Services / HMO's are also active in the "contribution" game. Thus far for the current election cycle (2010), this sector has contributed just over $1.7M to Congressional candidates, 65% to dems, 35% to repubs. During the 2008 Cycle, this sector contributed over $14M to Congressional candidates, 60% to dems, 40% to repubs.
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=H03++&goButt2.x=8&goButt2.y=6

When you include contributions from health professionals, and hospitals and nursing homes, we are talking about BIG money, serious money, that always comes with strings attached. Since 1990 the totals from the industry are into the 100's of millions of dollars. With this kind of money on the table, it's easy to see why we can't seem to get any meaningful of the industry. These folks do not play fair or with any degree of integrity. If you were to lac8erate many of our representatives or senators, they would ble*ed green. Sad to say, but that's the way it is.

[PhilipTaylor]

10:51 PM on 08/20/2009

The FACTS

1. Republicans have proven to be the PARTY OF "NO" on anything of substance and have a 62% disapproval rating!

2. Some Blue DOGS have violated their "TRUST" with Democrats by selling their V0TES. Some have done enough questionable activities to be called before the Senate Ethics Committee.

3. Three committees in the House have V0TED to include a Strong Public Option and one committee in the Senate has voted to include a Strong Public Option! So All FOUR COMMITTEES that have passed Bills all include a Strong Public Option!

The Result is Republicans V0TES must be ignored and the extreme Blue Dawgs must be Ignored.

The illegally formed Sub-Committee of Six which ignores the V0TE of the People of America must be disbanded and ignored. Proper "Representation" would have been at least 4 and possibly 5 Democrats and 3 Republicans!

The Sub-Committee of six within the Senate Finance Committee is also a tainted group by acceptance of excessively "Out-of-State Funding" from Insurance, Health Care Providers, and Big Pharma plus Wall Street’s ill-Gotten L00T! The Committee received over $12 Million from health care Corporatists and many times that in $MILLION from Wall Street!

The PUBLIC OPTION DE@TH P@NEL OF SIX:

1. Baucus $4Million from Health Care Industries!
2. C0nrad $2.2Million
3. Bingaman $1.1Million
4. Enzi $931,000
5. Grassley $2.9Million
6. Snowe $1.2Million

Summary: STRONG PUBLIC OPTION MUST BE PASSED AND IF NECESSARY USING A 51% V0TE in the SENATE!

[FrozenNorthObserver]

05:10 PM on 08/21/2009

Ya missed the biggest one Phil. This guy took in nearly twice as much those in your list combined in 08 alone, $20mil, a fella by the name of B. H. Ob*a*ma

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php?ind=H&cycle=2008&recipdetail=A&mem=Y&sortorder=U

[PhilipTaylor]

10:50 PM on 08/20/2009

Corporations ___ Advertising Against Reform

BLUE CROSS $2.8 Million
Chamber of Commerce $2 Million
Pfizer $5.6 Million
United Health $5.9 Million
Lilly $15.9 Million

[nopilikia]

10:40 PM on 08/20/2009

Who says a well spent million here and there can't bring reform to its knees.

[FrozenNorthObserver]

05:12 PM on 08/21/2009

Big Health $20 mil to Ob*a*ma in 08

[nopilikia]

10:27 PM on 08/21/2009

There you go. Talks the talk, but not tough enough to walk the walk.

[whatthel]

09:29 PM on 08/20/2009

No big surprise here. Bribes are expensive.

[DidiM]

05:38 PM on 08/20/2009

They shuld be freaking arrested... for aiding and abetting in the PREMATURE - unnecessary DEATHS they CAUSE - because of their MURDEROUS Prices!

Take a look at what you pay and compare it with what the rest of the world pays. And then please explain why these guys aren't in jail.

http://www.politicallyincorrectandproudofit.net/index/american-drug-costs-vs-cdn-americans-being-robbed-

[FoonTheElder]

05:16 PM on 08/20/2009

I smell another increase in drug prices!

[ErnestineBass]

09:17 PM on 08/20/2009

I smell a gangrenous public option.

[One more Thing]

12:37 AM on 08/21/2009

Funi!

[FoonTheElder]

09:44 AM on 08/21/2009

You obviously prefer more big corporate welfare, like our 'fiscal conservative' Congresspersons.