Health Care Debate A Campaign Cash Cow

Health industry groups garner for lawmakers' attention with contributions

By Bennett Roth and Alex Knott, CQ Staff

WASHINGTON - During the first half of 2009, health industry groups contributed almost $1.8 million to 18 lawmakers overseeing the House side of the action on an overhaul bill.

For 15 of the 18 congressional leaders, health-care-related PACs accounted for the largest or second-largest contributions each lawmaker received from any industry during the first six months of 2009, a CQ MoneyLine analysis of campaign finance reports shows.

Six of the 18 hold the top Democratic and Republican leadership positions in the House. The remaining 12 chair or serve as the ranking Republican on the Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor committees, all of which have had a role in shaping the House health care bill (HR 3200).

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