Senators who weakened drug bill got millions from industry

[sasha031]

WASHINGTON — Senators who raised millions of dollars in campaign donations from pharmaceutical interests secured industry-friendly changes to a landmark drug-safety bill, according to public records and interviews.The bill, which passed 93-1, grants the Food and Drug Administration broad new authority to monitor the safety of drugs after they are approved. It addressed some shortcomings that allowed the painkiller Vioxx to stay on the market for years after initial signs that it could cause heart attacks

A measure that blocked an effort to allow drug importation passed, 49-40. The 49 senators who voted against drug importation received about $5 million from industry executives and political action committees since 2001 — nearly three quarters of the industry donations to current members of the Senate, according to a USA TODAY analysis of data compiled by two non-partisan groups, Center for Responsive Politics and PoliticalMoneyLine.

The bill's chief sponsors — Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., — agreed after consultations with industry officials and others to modify a proposal that all clinical drug studies be made public, said Craig Orfield, Enzi's spokesman. Under the change, only those studies submitted to the FDA would be available.

lots more, I don't know who to trust anymore
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-05-10-senators-drug-bill_N.htm#Close

[leftchick]

1. why looky there, it is John Kerry!

The "RAW DEAL" right at the top! :grr:

And my senator BURR, who I would expect to be there.....

HOW SENATORS VOTED

The Senate voted 49-40 this week to require U.S. officials to certify the safety and effectiveness of prescription medicines imported from foreign countries. The vote effectively killed an effort to allow the importation of cheaper prescription drugs from abroad. A "yes" vote, supported by drugmakers, was a vote to adopt the certification requirement and a "no" vote was a vote to defeat it.

Here are the top recipients of contributions from pharmaceutical executives and political action committees from 2001 through March, and how they voted:
Senator 2001-07 contributions Vote
Richard Burr, R-N.C. $520,694 Yes
John Kerry, D-Mass. $304,888 Yes
Joe Lieberman, I-Conn. $281,040 Yes
Arlen Specter, R-Pa. $259,699 Yes
Orrin Hatch, R-Utah $241,850 Yes
Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa $216,599 No
Max Baucus, D-Mont. $199,000 Yes
Chris Dodd, D-Conn. $192,025 Did not vote
Tom Carper, D-Del. $183,794 Yes
Mike Enzi, R-Wyo. $174,338 Yes

Source: USA TODAY analysis of campaign-finance data

[aquart]

2. John, you don't need that money. For shame.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. The term "corrupt politician" is becoming redundant.

“America is a nation without a distinct criminal class...with the possible exception of Congress." - Mark Twain

[ProSense]

4. Bogus article and the information is incorrect.

According to the article:

The pharmaceutical companies spend more money on lobbying than any other single industry — $855 million from 1998 to 2006, according to the non-partisan Center for Public
Integrity.

Pharmaceutical interests and PAC monies.

Senator Kerry's campaign funds come from individual donations. He is not among the top recipients of pharmaceutical PAC money (he is most likely at the very bottom: last). From the Center for Responsive Politics:

2006: 1 Nancy L. Johnson (R-CT) $216,710

2004: 1 Richard Burr (R-NC) $184,498

2002: 1 Nancy L. Johnson (R-CT) $189,992

2000: 1 Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT) $153,965

Since 1989, Senator Kerry has recieved $3,154 from Health PACs.


Look at the amounts no voters get from Health PACs:

Feinstein - $618,288

Dorgan - $266,950

Clinton - $250,350

There are reasons that people do things other than money: here, here and here.

[babylonsister]

5. Thanks, ProSense, for clarifying. I wonder what USAT gains by

skewing these numbers?

[peacetalksforall]

6. Screw. Screwed. Appropriate word for what's going on.

American citizens are getting screwed by Americans. All the emphasis is on terrahists. Wrong. Terrahists are not all of our problem here on this planet.

Read carefully.
v. intr.

To turn or twist.
To become attached by means of the threads of a screw.
To be capable of such attachment.
Slang To act or fool around aimlessly or in a confused way and accomplish nothing.
To muster or summon up: screwed up my courage.
Slang To make a mess of (an undertaking).
Slang To injure; damage: Lifting those boxes really screwed up my back.
Slang To make neurotic or anxious.

Relative to sex:
Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse.
Vulgar Slang To be sexually promiscuous.
Can it be said that our leaders screw with lobbyists in one form or another?

The UNITED LOBBYISTS OF AMERICA. Brought out then bought out.