Lobbyists of all stripes in health-care debate

WASHINGTON - If there is any doubt that President Obama's plan to overhaul U.S. health care is the hottest topic in Congress, just ask the 3,300 lobbyists who have lined up to work on the issue.

That's six lobbyists for each of the 535 members of the House and Senate, according to Senate records, and three times the number of people registered to lobby on defense.

More than 1,500 organizations have health-care lobbyists, and each day, about three more are signing up. Every one of the 10 biggest lobbying firms by revenue is involved in an effort that could affect 17 percent of the U.S. economy.

These groups spent $263.4 million on lobbying during the first six months of 2009, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based research group. That's more than any other industry. During the same period last year, they spent $241.4 million. Drugmakers alone spent $134.5 million, 64 percent more than the next biggest spenders, oil and gas companies.

"Whenever you have a big piece of legislation like this, it's like ringing the dinner bell for K Street," said Bill Allison of the Sunlight Foundation, a watchdog group, referring to the street in the capital where many lobbying firms have offices.

Health-care lobbyists said their current effort is the largest since the successful 1986 push to overhaul the tax code. The result is a debate involving thousands of disparate voices, forcing Congress to pick winners and losers. "There's a lot of money at stake, and there are a lot of special interests who don't want their ox gored," Allison noted.

The lobbyists are on all sides of the issue. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the Washington-based trade group for drug companies, has embraced a health-care overhaul.

Amgen Inc., the world's largest biotechnology company, said it's effort is intended to "effectively shape health-care policy," said spokeswoman Kelley Davenport. Likewise, Ray Kerins of Pfizer said his firm is "dedicated to ensuring that our voice is heard."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, meanwhile, is opposing efforts to offer government-run health insurance to compete with private companies. The chamber spent $26 million in the first six months of 2009 on lobbying, more than any other group.

For lobbyists, the goal is to ensure that whatever measure eventually becomes law doesn't cripple the industry they represent. "They assume health-care reform is going to happen, and they want to be protected," said John Jonas, of Patton Boggs L.L.P. lobbying firm in Washington.

Patton Boggs has three dozen clients in the health-care debate - more than any other firm - including Bristol-Myers Squibb and Walmart.

The lobbyists fill the appointment books of lawmakers, and line up at House and Senate office buildings. The staff of Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D., Mont.) rotates weekly meetings among the various groups in the health-care debate.

But the blitz carries a risk for the public. "The sheer quantity of money that's sloshed around Washington is drowning out the voices of citizens and the groups that speak up for them," said Larry McNeely of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

The health-care industry has also contributed $20.5 million to federal candidates and the political parties during the first six months of the year, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.), who is up for reelection next year, received $382,400, more than any other lawmaker.

The cacophony - and the number of lobbyists - could grow once Congress returns next month and resumes efforts to enact legislation by the end of the year. According to Jonas of Patton Boggs, "They have just decided this is serious enough and [now] more fully understand the impact it's going to have."