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How the Prescription Drug Industry "Buys" Special Influence in Washington

If Presidential candidates, Senators and Representatives listen to their constituents, they will take action in 2000 to bring prescription drug relief to people on Medicare. That's why the pharmaceutical/health products industry is spending millions of dollars to get Congress to listen to them instead!

From 1997 through 1999, the pharmaceutical/health products industry and its employees spent more than $14.8 million on federal campaigns through unlimited "soft" money donations to national political parties and contributions to candidates.
In 1999, pharmaceutical/health products PACs and employees gave more than $579,000 to presidential candidates, in addition to the millions more going to members of Congress and political parties.
In 1997-1998, the pharmaceutical/health products industry spent more than $148 million lobbying Congress and the President - second only to the insurance industry and more than Big Tobacco!

Specifically, here's how much the pharmaceutical/health products companies spent to "buy" Congress and Presidential candidates since 1997:

Soft Money: Individual and Corporate Contributions to National Party Committees

Year	Republicans	%	Democrats	%	Totals
1999-2000	$1,340,738	61%	$870,050	39%	$2,210,788
1997-1998	$4,160,717	63%	$2,439,280	37%	$6,599,997
Totals	$5,501,455	62%	$3,309,330	38%	$8,810,785

Source: Common Cause (www.commoncause.org)

PAC Contributions to Candidates

Year	Republicans	%	Democrats	%	Totals
1999-2000	$965,097	73%	$363,220	27%	$1,328,317
1997-1998	$2,748,539	67%	$1,323,932	33%	$4,073,221
Totals	$3,713,646	69%	$1,687,152	31%	$5,400,798

Source: Center for Responsive Politics (www.opensecrets.org)

Pharmaceutical/Health Products Companies'
PAC and Individual Donations to Presidential Candidates as of December 1, 1999

Bush	$251,965
Hatch	$128,965
Bradley	$99,400
Gore	$64,700
McCain	$16,750
Bauer	$8,950
Forbes	$7,000
Buchanan	$1,000
Keyes	$400
Total	$579,130

Source: Center for Responsive Politics (www.opensecrets.org)

Lobby Expenditures

Year	Lobbyist Spending
1998	$73,799,855
1997	$74,732,930
Totals	$148,532,785

Source: Center for Responsive Politics (www.opensecrets.org)

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