If you still have doubts about the influence drug companies have on Capitol Hill, you'll be as alarmed as I am about this USA Today report that tracked donations from the cartel to Congressmen that may have influenced their decisions in killing a measure last week that would've allowed drug imports into America.
The 49 senators who voted down the drug importation measure have received $5 million from drug executives and related political action committees over the past six years, representing almost 75 percent of the industry's donations to current Senate members. And, one legislator who claimed he was responsible for introducing an amendment that limited the FDA's authority to require post-market studies had received $168,500 in donations from drug companies.
However, that Congressman didn't even make the top 10 list when it came to campaign donations from drug companies. The top five Senators, all of whom voted in favor of killing drug importation legislation, and the amounts they received from the drug cartel:
- Richard Burr (R-N.C.) $520,694
- John Kerry (D-Mass.) $304,888
- Joe Lieberman (I-Vt.) $281,040
- Arlen Spector (R-Pa.) $259,699
- Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) $241,850
The only no vote among the list of top 10 Senators receiving funds from drug interests was, surprisingly, number 6 on the list: Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) at $216,599 and one of the disappointing few fighting for serious FDA reform.
All the more reason you shouldn't wait around for the FDA or anybody else to create a slightly better illusion of drug safety when you can take better responsibility for your own health, without useless and potentially toxic drugs.
USA Today May 11, 2007