Astroturf Groups Give Drug Industry Even More Clout

"Having spent more than $30 million to help elect their allies to Congress, the major drug companies are devising ways to capitalize on their electoral success by securing favorable new legislation and countering the pressure that lawmakers in both parties feel to lower the cost of prescription drugs, industry officials say. The industry's hand appears stronger now than at any other time in recent years, a result of its large donations to political parties and candidates and millions of dollars spent on television advertising by industry-financed groups." (The New York Times print version of this story noted that at least $15 million was spent on TV ads placed by drug industry front groups such as the United Seniors Association. For unknown reasons this information is not in the New York Times online version.)