Health Sector Donates Millions to U.S. Congress
Lawmakers Receive Over $85 Million during 2008 Election Cycle
Aug 7, 2009
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) chairs the Senate Finance Committee and is one of the leading architects in Congress of health care reform. Baucus also leads most members of Congress in the amount of contributions he's received from the health sector, which includes health providers, insurers, and pharmaceutical companies. In fact, according to the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP), he received over $1.5 million dollars during the 2008 election cycle alone, more than any other Democrat in Congress.
But Baucus is not the only politician cashing in on the big money that the health sector contributes each election cycle. The CRP, which provides a nonpartisan guide to money’s influence on U.S. elections and public policy, reports that the amount of money donated by individuals and political action committees (PACs) associated with the health sector has increased from over $97 million during the 2000 election cycle to over $167 million in the 2008 cycle.
And Democrats and Republicans alike are scoring big time.
Health Sector Contributions since the 2000 Election Cycle
The following list provides the total amount of health sector contributions since the 2000 election cycle, according to the CRP. These figures reflect contributions made to both Republican and Democratic candidates and party committees for each election cycle.
- 2010 election cycle - $17,167,255
- 2008 election cycle - $167,226,103
- 2006 election cycle - $100,343,717
- 2004 election cycle - $123,865,644
- 2002 election cycle - $95,565,104
- 2000 election cycle - $97,606,096
The figures are based on contributions of $200 or more from individuals and PACs to federal candidates, and from individuals, PACS, and soft money to political parties. However, the 2004 through 2010 election cycles do not include donations of Levin funds to state and local party committees. In addition, because the 2010 election cycle is in its early stages, this figure will grow as contributions roll in.
Note that an election cycle spans a two-year period. For example, the 2002 election cycle includes January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2002.
Health Sector Contributions to Republicans since the 2000 Election Cycle
The next list shows the amount of health sector contributions to the Republican Party since the 2000 election cycle. The figures also include the percentage of the total amount donated each cycle.
- 2010 election cycle - $6,558,678 (38% of total)
- 2008 election cycle - $76,643,695 (46% of total)
- 2006 election cycle - $62,189,762 (62% of total)
- 2004 election cycle - $75,210,240 (61% of total)
- 2002 election cycle - $62,148,222 (65% of total)
- 2000 election cycle - $58,674,200 (60% of total)
Note that during the 2000 through 2006 election cycles, the Republican Party received over 60% of the total funds. But starting with the 2008 cycle, their percentage has shrunk to less than the Democratic Party, the first time since the 1992 election cycle.
Health Sector Contributions to Democrats since the 2000 Election Cycle
This list provides the amount of health sector contributions to the Democratic Party since the 2000 election cycle, along with the percentage of the total amount donated each cycle.
- 2010 election cycle - $10,576,713 (62% of total)
- 2008 election cycle - $90,189,108 (54% of total)
- 2006 election cycle - $37,036,772 (37% of total)
- 2004 election cycle - $48,288,926 (39% of total)
- 2002 election cycle - $33,131,001 (35% of total)
- 2000 election cycle - $38,269,003 (39% of total)
As the figures demonstrate, the Democratic Party, which is leading health care reform on Capitol Hill, now takes a bigger cut than the Republican Party. In fact, the CRP reports that President Obama alone took in $18.8 million during the 2008 election cycle, more than any other presidential candidate. And the Democratic Party has already received 62% of the funds contributed so far for the 2010 election cycle.
Top 10 Senate Recipients of Health Sector Contributions in 2008 Election Cycle
Republicans and Democrats alike benefit from the large sums of money contributed every election cycle. The following list shows the top 10 U.S. Senate recipients of health sector donations in the 2008 election cycle.
- John McCain (R-AZ) - $7,436,673
- Max Baucus (D-MT) - $1,575,675
- Mitch McConnell (R-KY) - $1,497,235
- John Cornyn (R-TX) - $997,319
- Arlen Specter (D-PA) - $839,498
- Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) - $757,209
- Tom Harkin (D-IA) - $727,248
- Pat Roberts (R-KS) - $718,949
- Susan Collins (R-ME) - $706,519
- Harry Reid (D-NV) - $671,900
Of course, the figures don't reflect the health care benefits that Congress also receives, at the expense of tax payers.
Top 10 House Recipients of Health Sector Contributions in 2008 Election Cycle
Like the Senate, members of the U.S. House of Representatives are not immune from receiving their share of funds. This list provides the top 10 House recipients of health sector dollars in the 2008 election cycle.
- Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) - $1,153,361
- Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) - $985,345
- Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) - $913,600
- Ron Paul (R-TX) - $880,544
- John Boehner (R-OH) - $731,000
- Eric Cantor (R-VA) - $711,050
- Dave Camp (R-MI) - $696,650
- Tom Price (R-GA) - $644,851
- John D. Dingell (D-MI) - $635,736
- James E. Clyburn (D-SC) - $593,098
Clearly, these top House recipients, as well as the top Senate recipients in the previous list, represent only part of the $167 million contributed during the 2008 election cycle. But they receive enough for voters to question what the health sector expects for these contributions, particularly at a time when everyone's talking health care reform and millions of health industry dollars could be at stake.
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