Dems Voting No on Prescription Drug Imports Receive More Pharma Money

Just In Case You Missed it at Maplight.org.

Like a good friend once told me, when something makes absolutely no sense, follow the money. Deep throat wasn't the only one who has given that sage advice. 

Now, tell me, do we have a Democracy or do we have an Oligarchy?

December 16, 2009 - Yesterday, the Senate voted against the importation of prescription drugs, 51-48. Offered by Sen Byron Dorgan (D-ND) as an amendment to the health care reform bill, the provision would pave the way for market access to cheaper prescription drugs, by relaxing restrictions on imports from Canada and other highly-developed countries. In a bipartisan effort rarely seen in recent votes on health care reform, 30 Democrats sided with 17 Republicans and one Independent to kill the bill.

MAPLight.org found that Senate Democrats who voted to block imports, siding with drug companies, received an average of $73,678 each from drug companies over the past six years—76% more than Democrats who voted in favor of imports.

Among all Senators, those voting to block imports received an average of $85,779 each from drug companies, 69% more than those who voted in favor of imports.

All Democrats (and Independents)
Average to Yes votes (allow imports): $41,894
Average to No votes (block imports): $73,678

All Senators
Average to Yes votes (allow imports): $50,767
Average to No votes (block imports): $85,779

The pharmaceutical manufacturing industry is opposed to drug importation, claiming the risks of counterfeit medicines and sub-standard regulations could cause undue harm to consumers. Senator Dorgan and 12 co-sponsors argue in the text of this bill that "a prescription drug is neither safe nor effective to an individual who cannot afford it." Dorgan estimates that the bill would save American consumers $100 billion over ten years.

Previous MAPLight.org research has also shown alignment of pharma campaign money and votes in Congress. On a Medicare-related vote in September, Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee who voted in favor of pharma interests received 4.2 times more campaign money from pharma interests than Dems who voted against pharma interests.

And in May 2007, the Senate voted to kill a similar effort to allow prescription drug imports. Senators who voted in favor of pharma interests received three times more campaign money from pharma interests—$100,000 each over six years—than Senators who voted against them.

Note: Averages for yesterday's vote exclude Senator Byrd, who did not vote, and recently elected or appointed Senators Roland Burris, Paul Kirk, and George LeMieux

Correction: Earlier post excluded Herbert Kohl from averages.

Campaign Contributions to Senators from Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Interests, January 1, 2003 - August 12, 2009

Senator	Party	State	Amount from pharma interests	Vote on allowing imports
Akaka, Daniel	D	HI	$4,000	No
Alexander, Lamar	R	TN	$108,950	Yes
Barrasso, John	R	WY	$55,500	No
Baucus, Max	D	MT	$261,020	No
Bayh, Evan	D	IN	$144,072	No
Begich, Mark	D	AK	$7,500	Yes
Bennet, Michael	D	CO	$10,750	Yes
Bennett, Robert	R	UT	$124,000	No
Bingaman, Jeff	D	NM	$48,500	Yes
Bond, Christopher	R	MO	$99,003	Yes
Boxer, Barbara	D	CA	$35,900	Yes
Brown, Sherrod	D	OH	$17,300	Yes
Brownback, Samuel	R	KS	$28,250	No
Bunning, Jim	R	KY	$64,250	No
Burr, Richard	R	NC	$301,898	No
Burris, Roland	D	IL	$0	No
Byrd, Robert	D	WV	$32,100	Not voting
Cantwell, Maria	D	WA	$22,400	No
Cardin, Benjamin	D	MD	$40,850	No
Carper, Thomas	D	DE	$135,700	No
Casey, Robert	D	PA	$34,750	No
Chambliss, Saxby	R	GA	$83,949	No
Coburn, Thomas	R	OK	$44,051	Yes
Cochran, Thad	R	MS	$69,000	No
Collins, Susan	R	ME	$70,500	Yes
Conrad, Kent	D	ND	$83,000	Yes
Corker, Bob	R	TN	$65,200	Yes
Cornyn, John	R	TX	$119,700	Yes
Crapo, Michael	R	ID	$64,580	Yes
DeMint, Jim	R	SC	$40,000	Yes
Dodd, Christopher	D	CT	$174,525	No
Dorgan, Byron	D	ND	$12,500	Yes
Durbin, Richard	D	IL	$28,600	No
Ensign, John	R	NV	$89,950	No
Enzi, Michael	R	WY	$146,500	No
Feingold, Russell	D	WI	$6,200	Yes
Feinstein, Dianne	D	CA	$39,500	Yes
Franken, Al	D	MN	$2,500	Yes
Gillibrand, Kirsten	D	NY	$44,400	No
Graham, Lindsey	R	SC	$55,250	Yes
Grassley, Charles	R	IA	$103,700	Yes
Gregg, Judd	R	NH	$122,500	No
Hagan, Kay	D	NC	$4,650	No
Harkin, Thomas	D	IA	$81,800	Yes
Hatch, Orrin	R	UT	$262,950	No
Hutchison, Kay	R	TX	$29,250	Yes
Inhofe, James	R	OK	$20,250	No
Inouye, Daniel	D	HI	$200	No
Isakson, John	R	GA	$126,599	No
Johanns, Mike	R	NE	$43,100	Yes
Johnson, Tim	D	SD	($1,500)	Yes
Kaufman, Edward	D	DE	$0	No
Kerry, John	D	MA	$21,170	No
Kirk, Paul	D	MA	$0	No
Klobuchar, Amy	D	MN	$2,290	Yes
Kohl, Herbert	D	WI	$0	Yes
Kyl, Jon	R	AZ	$117,350	No
Landrieu, Mary	D	LA	$89,550	No
Lautenberg, Frank	D	NJ	$97,550	No
Leahy, Patrick	D	VT	$46,600	Yes
LeMieux, George	R	FL	$0	Yes
Levin, Carl	D	MI	$1,000	No
Lieberman, Joseph	I	CT	$199,540	No
Lincoln, Blanche	D	AR	$100,750	Yes
Lugar, Richard	R	IN	$51,850	No
McCain, John	R	AZ	$7,000	Yes
McCaskill, Claire	D	MO	$6,050	Yes
McConnell, Mitch	R	KY	$225,900	Yes
Menéndez, Robert	D	NJ	$196,452	No
Merkley, Jeff	D	OR	$18,500	Yes
Mikulski, Barbara	D	MD	$70,995	No
Murkowski, Lisa	R	AK	$63,050	Yes
Murray, Patty	D	WA	$144,400	No
Nelson, Ben	D	NE	$138,098	Yes
Nelson, Bill	D	FL	$38,600	Yes
Pryor, Mark	D	AR	$31,000	Yes
Reed, John	D	RI	$34,100	No
Reid, Harry	D	NV	$74,800	No
Risch, James	R	ID	$22,100	Yes
Roberts, Pat	R	KS	$80,650	No
Rockefeller, John	D	WV	$44,000	No
Sanders, Bernard	I	VT	$420	Yes
Schumer, Charles	D	NY	$54,900	No
Sessions, Jefferson	R	AL	$45,000	Yes
Shaheen, Jeanne	D	NH	$2,250	Yes
Shelby, Richard	R	AL	$25,000	Yes
Snowe, Olympia	R	ME	$4,000	Yes
Specter, Arlen	D	PA	$353,550	Yes
Stabenow, Debbie Ann	D	MI	$39,134	Yes
Tester, Jon	D	MT	$14,000	No
Thune, John	R	SD	$45,300	Yes
Udall, Mark	D	CO	$102,275	No
Udall, Tom	D	NM	$15,300	Yes
Vitter, David	R	LA	$17,050	Yes
Voinovich, George	R	OH	$63,750	No
Warner, Mark	D	VA	$84,950	No
Webb, Jim	D	VA	$8,750	Yes
Whitehouse, Sheldon	D	RI	$11,800	No
Wicker, Roger	R	MS	$67,600	Yes
Wyden, Ron	D	OR	$27,800	Yes

Methodology:

Campaign contributions data provided by the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets Open Data, and includes PAC and individual contributions from pharmaceutical manufacturing interests. Date range of contributions: January 1, 2003 - August 12, 2009. Contributions to the presidential campaigns of Senators are not included.

And they are cheap too. Just imagine what it's going to be like after the Supremes ruling allowing unfettered giving to these already bought and paid for souls goes into effect. We, the people don't stand a chance now.

There is nothing civil about civil wars!