Billions spent skewing health reform

Health care industry continues to spend big as debate enters critical stage in Congress, the health care industry continues to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into lobbying and ad campaigns on top of millions in campaign contributions.

The health care industry is still spending an average of $1.4 million per day on lobbying and has deployed more than 3,000 lobbyists – almost six lobbyists per member of Congress – according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics. The pharmaceutical companies alone have spent more than $92 million lobbying legislators this year and, through their trade association, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association (PhRMA), will roll out a $150 million ad campaign in coming weeks to support a plan that does not require drug companies to discount their products as much as other proposals aimed at reducing the nation's total health care bill.

The health care industry has also given members of Congress nearly $24 million in campaign contributions this year, on top of the nearly $170 million they donated last election, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Read more from source: Common Cause (via docuTicker)

Who will win in healthcare reform? Hint -It is a number$ game... not you.

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