[lurkingforacure]

Wow. they must see Obama's plan as one that will make their bottom line even more bloated than it already is...this is a huge sum.

Here's the article:

""Drug Industry Helping Obama Overhaul Health Care
Efforts by nation's drugmakers could dwarf attempts to derail Obama's top domestic priority.

AP

Saturday, August 08, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The nation's drugmakers stand ready to spend $150 million to help President Barack Obama overhaul health care this fall, according to numerous officials, a staggering sum that could dwarf attempts to derail Obama's top domestic priority.

The White House and allies in Congress are well aware of the effort by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a somewhat surprising political alliance, given the drug industry's recent history of siding with Republicans and the Democrats' disdain for special interests.

Read more here: http://news.aol.com/article/obamas-h...rchsphere_news

© 2009 All Rights Reserved AOL News. © 2009 AOL LLC. All Rights Reserved.

[Stitcher]

In addition to Lurkings post above:

Drug industry, Pfizer lead in health lobbying

Associated Press, By ALAN FRAM (AP) – Jul 20, 2009
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...8ChowD99IJRI82

According to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, the health sector reported spending $127 million in lobbying during the first three months of this year, more than any other area.

Of the thousands of reports filed by Monday evening covering lobbying on all subjects, only three organizations reported spending more during the second quarter than PhRMA, the drug industry trade group. The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity reported spending $11.3 million lobbying at a time when Congress is considering energy legislation. The U.S.

Including its latest report, PhRMA has now spent $13.1 million lobbying so far this year. Pfizer has reported $11.7 million in lobbying expenses for 2009.

Other top lobbying spenders among health-related organizations for this year's second quarter included the American Medical Association, $4 million; Eli Lilly and Co., $3.6 million; the American Hospital Association, $3.5 million, and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, $2.8 million.

Also, GlaxoSmithKline, $2.3 million; CVS Caremark Inc., $2 million; Bayer Corp. and America's Health Insurance Plans, representing the health insurance industry, $1.9 million each; Novartis and the Biotechnology Industry Organization, each $1.8 million, and Metlife Group Inc., $1.7 million.

Also, Sanofi-Aventis U.S. Inc. reported spending $1.6 million in the second quarter; Johnson & Johnson Services Inc. $1.6 million; Merck & Co. Inc. $1.5 million; F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd. and its affiliates, $1.5 million; the American College of Radiology Association, Wellpoint Inc. and Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, each $1.2 million, and Siemens Corp. and UnitedHealth Group Inc., $1 million each.

[olsen]

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com....php?ref=fpblg

TPMrreaderblog

Obamacare Is At War With Itself Over Future Costs
July 19, 2009, 9:19PM


"Right now, Obamacare is at war with itself. Political efforts to buy off Big Pharma, private insurers, and the AMA are all pushing up long-term costs -- one reason why Douglas Elmendorf, head of the Congressional Budget Office, told Congress late last week that "the cost curve is being raised." But this is setting off alarms among Blue Dog Democrats worried about future deficits -- and their votes are critical.

Big Pharma, for example, is in line to get just what it wants. The Senate health panel’s bill protects biotech companies from generic competition for 12 years after their drugs go to market, which is guaranteed to keep prices sky high. Meanwhile, legislation expected from the Senate Finance committee won't allow cheaper drugs to be imported from Canada and won't give the federal government the right to negotiate Medicare drug prices directly with pharmaceutical companies. Last month Big Pharma agreed to what the White House touted as $80 billion in givebacks to help pay for expanded health insurance, but so far there's been no mechanism to force the industry to keep its promise. No wonder Big Pharma is now running "Harry and Louise" ads -- the same couple who fifteen years ago scared Americans into thinking the Clinton plan would take away their choice of doctor -- now supportive of Obamacare. Private insurers, for their part, have become convinced they'll make more money with a universal mandate accompanied by generous subsidies for families with earnings up to 400 percent of poverty (in excess of $80,000 of income) than they might stand to lose. Although still strongly opposed to a public option, the insurance industry is lining up behind much of the legislation. The biggest surprise is the AMA, which has also now come out in favor -- but only after being assurred that Medicare reimbursements won't be cut nearly as much as doctors first feared....

But all these industry giveaways are obviously causing the healthcare tab to grow...

Obama has less than three weeks before August recess.... To control long-term costs, he'll also have to take away some of the goodies that have been promised to the health-industrial complex, and maybe even cross Big Labor. He also needs to come out clearly and forcefully in favor of a way to pay for the whole thing -- ideally, in my view, a surtax on the top."

[olsen]

article in newspaper today notes the Pharmaceutical industry is to "absorb $80 billion" in costs over the next decade. and also want obama to block any further costs to be absorbed. As I understand , this is not a direct "donation" but a computation of possible losses. What is not included are projections of the possible gains from extension of patent exclusivity, inability of govt to negotiate drug prices for medicare, and the enactment of laws making it illegal to import drugs from countries which sell them for much less. Guess they will "absorb" those gains, also. Would very much like to see a number representing these potential gains over a decade.