pharma barons paid 44 mil to lobby STATES

[donsu]

http://www.publicintegrity.org/rx/report.aspx?aid=794


Industry Puts $44 Million into State Lobbying
Campaigns push back against moves to cut prices, spending on medication


Fighting a flurry of legislative and public policy initiatives aimed at reducing prices and slicing drug budgets, the pharmaceutical industry spent more than $44 million on lobbying state governments in 2003 and 2004, a Center for Public Integrity analysis of lobbying records has found.

The industry also funneled more than $8 million to the campaigns of candidates for various state offices over the same period, according to a Center analysis of state campaign money. (See Deep Pockets Contribute to Success)

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"The industry spent tremendous sums to defeat because they have so much at stake," said Bernie Horn, policy director for the Center for Policy Alternatives, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that works with state legislators.

According to a 2003 study by management consulting group A.T. Kearney, drug industry revenues could drop by $2 billion to $4 billion by 2008 if states were to take full advantage of their purchasing power to push for price reduction.
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see how they rip us off

see how HEALTH is not a word they value

the Lobby business should be banned!!!

it's bad enough the pharma barons get to brainwash people via TV ads.

[Cleita]

1. Thanks!

Bookmarked and printed. Great website btw.