By the Numbers: Lobbying by Any Other Name...

In my continuing effort to counter the main-stream media disinformation about everything Obama, I visited the CPI site this morning motivated by the rhetoric from liberal progressive democrats: "The foremost thing on everyone's mind is that they are concerned about their health care."  Really?  Well, if you put it that way...yeah, I am.  The company my husband works for just announced that at a minimum the health care "reform" will cost them 150 million dollars in the first quarter alone.   So in essence, yeah, "Health Care Reform" is on my mind.  H*ll, I helped fight its passage for the past 14 months, and I'm still at it.  And while the MSM continues to abuse the airwaves with propaganda like I have never seen in my lifetime, take a look at the corruption behind the scenes.  We have corruption in the government like I've never seen in my lifetime, too.

From: The Center for Public Integrity




The Top Twelve Health Reform Lobby Firms...
Below are the top 12 firms, based on the number of clients they represented on health reform in 2009. However, the total dollar amounts listed for contracts may include lobbying on multiple issues beyond health care reform. The disclosure documents analyzed by the Center included “health reform” or similar wording but lobbyists are not required to delineate how much money in a given contract is devoted to a specific issue.

· No. 1
Patton Boggs LLP
53 clients
How much clients spent on health care and other issues in 2009: $7,675,000
Washington’s biggest lobby firm, Patton Boggs represented Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Florida’s Pinellas County, and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.
Founded in 1962, the law firm’s current chairman, Thomas Hale Boggs, Jr., is the son of former House Majority Leader Thomas Hale Boggs, Sr.
· No. 2
Alston & Bird LLP
40 clients
How much clients spent on health care and other issues in 2009: $4,610,000
The Atlanta-based firm represented Aetna Inc., Verizon Communications Inc., and Safeway Inc.
A 900-lawyer firm, its partners have included golfer Bobby Jones, former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, and Neal Batson, who was appointed examiner for bankrupt Enron Corp.
· No. 3
Foley Hoag LLP
32 clients
How much clients spent on health care and other issues in 2009: $4,064,500
Represented mainly pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer Inc., Eli Lilly & Co., Merck & Co., and Amgen Inc.
Founded in 1943, the firm has nearly 225 lawyers; antitrust, corporate, and intellectual property work have been recognized as strengths.
· No. 4
Tie
Podesta Group Inc.
28 clients
How much clients spent on health care and other issues in 2009: $5,160,000
Represented a diverse group of medical and other interests, including Davita Inc, Novartis AG and Nestle USA.
Chairman Tony Podesta was one of two lobbyists on GQ’s 2009 list of the 50 most influential people in Washington. His brother, John Podesta, was President Bill Clinton’s chief of staff, and created the think tank Center for American Progress.
· No. 4
Tie
Capitol Tax Partners LLP
28 clients
How much clients spent on health care and other issues in 2009: $3,640,000
Represented Time Warner Inc., Kraft Foods Inc., and Delta Air Lines Inc.
A consulting firm, Capitol Tax focuses on tax policy and regulatory issues and says it offers clients "an intimate, first-hand knowledge of the tax-writing committees and the Treasury."
· No. 4
Tie
Holland & Knight LLP
28 clients
How much clients spent on health care and other issues in 2009: $2,840,000
Clients included the Association of Critical Care Transport, Health First Inc., and the Florida Hospital Association.
The 1,150-member law firm has offices in a dozen U.S. cities, China, Israel, Mexico, UAE, and Venezuela.
· No. 5
Tie
Dutko Worldwide LLC
25 clients
How much clients spent on health care and other issues in 2009: $3,740,000
Represented, among others, insurer United Health Group, drugmaker association PhRMA, and medical device firm Medtronic Inc.
A lobbying and public affairs firm, Dutko has offices in 10 U.S. and European cities. The company was acquired last November by London-based Huntsworth Plc, which also focuses on health care issues.
No. 5
Tie
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
25 clients
How much clients spent on health care and other issues in 2009: $1,950,000
Represented National Psoriasis Foundation, National Association of County and City Health Officials, and American Association of Bioanalytics.
With 700 lawyers in a dozen U.S. offices, the firm’s clients are concentrated among health care providers, pharmaceutical firms, asset managers, and transportation industries.
· No. 6
Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti Inc.
24 clients
How much clients spent on health care and other issues in 2009: $3,490,000
Represented Mayo Clinic, Merck & Co Inc., and Hewlett-Packard Co.
The government affairs firm was founded by Bruce Mehlman, former general counsel to the House Republican Conference; Alex Vogel, former chief counsel to then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist; and David Castagnetti, a senior strategist in John Kerry’s presidential campaign.
· No. 7
Tie
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP
23 clients
How much clients spent on health care and other issues in 2009: $2,620,000
Represented mostly health care clients, including California Association of Physician Groups, Lance Armstrong Foundation, and Dynavox Inc.
A century-old law firm, it has more than 700 lawyers in offices throughout the United States and Europe.
· No. 7
Tie
Bryan Cave LLP
23 clients
How much clients spent on health care and other issues in 2009: $2,240,000
Represented Blue Shield of California Life and Health Insurance Co., Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, and American Academy of Family Physicians.
The firm has more than 1,000 lawyers in offices worldwide.
· No. 7

Tie

Van Scoyoc Associates

23 clients

Represented health care interests and colleges, including University of Alabama System and University of Connecticut.

How much clients spent on health care and other issues in 2009: $1,630,000

Founded in 1990, the Washington-based government affairs firm began as a specialist in tax and appropriations issues and has since expanded to more than 20 areas ranging from agriculture to water policy.

The Center for Public Integrity

Washington Lobbying Giants Cash in on Health Reform Debate

While patients, taxpayers and lawmakers debate the impact of the health care reform law President Obama signed on Tuesday, one result of the epic battle is clear: a bonanza for K Street. And among lobby firms that worked the issue, the richest generally got richer. A Center for Public Integrity ranking of the top dozen with the most clients involved in health care last year reveals a host of high-profile Washington concerns — companies like Patton Boggs LLP, Alston & Bird, LLP, Holland & Knight LLP and the Podesta Group.  Read more...

New Center Story Names Top 12 Health Reform Lobby Firms

They are Patton Boggs LLP, Alston & Bird LLP, Foley Hoag LLP, Podesta Group Inc., Capital Tax Partners LLP, Holland & Knight LLP, Dutko Worldwide LLC, Drinker Biddle & Reath LP, Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti Inc., Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP, Bryan Cave LLP, and Van Scoyoc Associates.

The clients who hired these firms ranged from influential industry associations to small non-profit advocacy groups. Some hired more than one of the top firms to lobby for their interests. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, for example, hired Capital Tax Partners, Dutko, Mehlman, and 22 other outside firms, in addition to the group’s own in-house lobbyists. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. hired Patton Boggs, Podesta Group, Mehlman, and Bryan Cave.

About 1,750 businesses and organizations hired about 4,525 lobbyists, total — eight for each member of Congress — and spent at least $1.2 billion to influence health care bills and other issues, according to a Center analysis of disclosure documents that included “health reform” or similar wording. The exact dollar amount spent on health care reform remains unclear because lobbyists are not required to itemize how much money in a given contract is devoted to a specific area. But if only 10 percent of that lobby spending went toward health reform, the amount would total $120 million — and that’s likely a record for a single year’s spending on a particular issue, experts say.  Read more...

Lobbyists Swarm Capitol To Influence Health Reform

A Center for Public Integrity analysis of Senate lobbying disclosure forms shows that more than 1,750 companies and organizations hired about 4,525 lobbyists — eight for each member of Congress — to influence health reform bills in 2009. Visit CPI website here.