The issues citizens care about are influenced by big-spending special interests whose campaign contributions drown out the voices and opinions of individuals. Industry interests opposed to new standards for patient care have stepped up their political giving.
Drugs cost more because of campaign contributions from the pharmaceutical industry.
With the help of that influence, brand-name drug companies have kept their bottom lines healthy by successfully convincing Congress to let them hold onto their drug patents longer. Campaign contributors are seeking to influence lawmakers' votes on health issues at all levels of government. According to a Massachusetts study, the health care industry was the largest source of campaign contributions to members of the health care committees of the Massachusetts legislature between 1989 and 1991. A Los Angeles group established a link between insurance industry contributions to the state insurance commissioner and a host of pro-industry actions. Congressional action against food poisoning is at a standstill in the face of millions in industry contributions.