Drug industry spent more than $22 million on lobbying in 2007
WASHINGTON — The pharmaceutical industry’s main trade group spent more than $22 million lobbying the federal government last year, a 25 percent boost from the year before.
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, whose members include Pfizer, Amgen Inc. and Eli Lilly & Co., spent about $12 million in the second half of 2007 to lobby on how prices are set for seniors’ medications, rules governing drug imports and other issues, according to lobbying disclosure records filed last week.
Proposals aimed at lowering drug prices and restricting industry advertising fell by the wayside in Congress paydayloans.com. But the road ahead for the industry looks increasingly bumpy.
The drug industry, consistently one of the top spenders in Washington, has long faced criticism from some lawmakers over the safety and prices of its products. But since late in 2006, after the Democrats regained control of Congress, drug makers have faced a slew of proposals unfriendly to their interests.