Health Care Industry Spent $445M On Federal Lobbying In 2007

Companies are spending a lot of money lobbying the staff...as many members of Congress either don't utilize technology or don't have a computer...posted in an early entry from an article stating such and that the staff actually creates most of the reports.....BD

Health care interests spent $445 million on federal lobbying in 2007 -- more than any other sector of the economy -- to finish as the top spender for the second consecutive year, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, CQ HealthBeat reports. A more specific breakdown of 20 industries that spent the most on lobbying in 2007, pharmaceutical and medical products companies rank first with $227 million in spending, while health insurance companies spent the second-most at $138 million. Hospitals and nursing homes spent $91 million, ranking fifth; while health professionals spent $70 million, ranking 15th; and HMOs/health services spent $52 million, ranking 19th.