Health Care Reform-Political Support-Public Campaign-Administration-Internal Memos

Let's make a deal

Drugmakers Vowed to Campaign for Health Law, Memos Show
Drugmakers led by Pfizer (PFE) (PFE) Inc. agreed to run a “very significant public campaign” bankrolling political support for the 2010 health-care law, including TV ads, while the Obama administration promised to block provisions opposed by drugmakers, documents released by Republicans show.
The internal memos and e-mails for the first time unveil the industry's plan to finance positive TV ads and supportive groups, along with providing $80 billion in discounts and taxes that were included in the law. The administration has previously denied the existence of a deal involving political support.
The documents were released today by Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. They identify price controls under Medicare and drug importation as the key industry concerns, and show that former Pfizer Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Kindler and his top aides were involved in drawing it up and getting support from other company executives.
“As part of our agreement, PhRMA needs to undertake a very significant public campaign in order to support policies of mutual interest to the industry and the Administration,” according to a July 14, 2009, memo from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. “We have included a significant amount for advertising to express appreciation for lawmakers’ positions on health care reform issues.”
The goal, the memo said, was to “create momentum for consensus health care reform, help it pass, and then acknowledge those senators and representatives who were instrumental in making it happen and who must remain vigilant during implementation.”
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-05-31/drugmakers-vowed-to-campaign-for-health-law-memos-show?r=discussed read more..

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing-Pharmaceutical Companies-President Barack Obama-Republican Candidates

Lobbying by Pharmaceutical Manufacturing | OpenSecrets

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Pharmaceutical companies, which develop both over-the-counter and prescription drugs, have been among the biggest political spenders for years. While the industry has traditionally supported Republican candidates, some key players have recently increased donations to Democratic candidates as the GOP’s power in Washington erodes. The pharmaceutical manufacturing industry will likely fair better this decade now that President Barack Obama’s initial plan to institute a public health insurance did not become a part of sweeping health care reform legislation signed into law in 2010. A government-run plan, because of its size, would have had considerable negotiating power to draw down drug prices. [Read more Background]

Top Contributors, 2011-2012

ContributorAmountPfizer Inc $702,391Amgen Inc $574,648AstraZeneca PLC $527,501Abbott Laboratories $406,773Merck & Co $363,041GlaxoSmithKline $325,741Eli Lilly & Co $264,762Novartis AG $205,209Bayer Corp $124,650Endo Pharmaceuticals $116,400Perrigo Co $111,475Mutual Pharmaceutical $105,000Allergan Inc $88,000Teva Pharmaceuticals USA $86,870Sanofi-Aventis $78,300Bristol-Myers Squibb $70,050Pharmaceutical Rsrch & Mfrs of America $65,450Nostrum Pharmaceuticals $62,300Cephalon Inc $61,250Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America $61,250...view more Contributors

Contribution Trends, 1990-2010

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Lobbying Totals, 1998-2010

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Party Split, 1990-2010

Top Recipients, 2011-2012

CandidateOfficeAmountObama, Barack (D) $129,139Romney, Mitt (R) $89,300Upton, Fred (R-MI)House $77,575Brown, Scott P (R-MA)Senate $76,483Hatch, Orrin G (R-UT)Senate $69,400...view more Recipients

Average Contributions to Members of Congress, 1990-2010

...view more Money to Congress Data for the current election cycle were released by the Federal Election Commission on Monday, February 13, 2012 Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics. via opensecrets.org Posted via email from Jack's posterous read more..