In the first three months of 2009, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has spent more money on lobbying since 1998 than any other company, trade association, or advocacy group, and the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America (PhARMA)--the No. 6 all-time spender--paid lobbyists a combined $22.5 million to promote their interests.
Meanwhile, prominent champions of the public insurance option spend very little on lobbying or campaign contributions
Families USA, a self-described consumer watchdog dedicated to health care issues, for example, has spent a mere $10,000
Health Care for America Now (HCAN), a national network that unites doctors' associations, consumer groups and other activists, spent $80,000 last year
Yowza. All that money spent to keep us getting
insurance and prescription medications
It's us, the consumer, the people who are having to shell out all this money for health "care" vs. the people taking all of our money
and pouring it into lobbying
clipped from: www.dailykos.com