Big Pharma, Corporations Dealt a Good Hand With McCain’s Replacement
Big Pharma, Corporations Dealt a Good Hand With McCain’s Replacement
Statements of Public Citizen Experts
Note: Today, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey appointed former U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) to fill the seat vacated by the late Sen. John McCain. Kyl, a Republican who served in the Senate from 1995 to 2013, said he will serve at least until the end of the current Congress and will not seek election in the 2020 special election. Kyl is a corporate lobbyist at Covington & Burling LLP.
“What’s better for corporations than contributing lots of money to elect senators who will do their bidding? Getting a lobbyist installed as a U.S. senator.
“What a serendipitously great day for Big Pharma, the auto companies, Facebook, Anheuser-Busch, Freeport McMoran, Northrup Grumman, Raytheon, Walmart and the other companies that have employed once-and-now-future Senator Jon Kyl.
“These companies employed Kyl precisely so he could help influence policy on their behalf. Now, he will be making policy. It’s hard to see how it could be other than on their behalf.”
– Robert Weissman, president
“This is the revolving door with an extra strong spin. Rare is the opportunity for a senator zip back and forth from the Senate to a lobby shop and back to Capitol Hill. We’re dizzy watching and we know industry is dizzy with joy.”
– Lisa Gilbert, vice president of legislative affairs
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