I've been spending some time at Open Secrets lately, trying to see what patterns I can in the corporate donations to our legislators and how that might affect the ongoing healthcare debate.  There is a lag in reporting campaign donations, so all is not known yet as to where money is being directed.  There are also some areas where donations may not be as easily viewed.  First let me paint with some broad strokes.

In the 1990 and 1994 election cycles Healthcare professionals ranked #2 among industries contributing to political campaigns, as might be expected in a presidential campaign year, and in light of the anticipated stab at healthcare reform by the Clinton administration.  Donations from Healthcare Professionals increased from $54.5 to $95.8M between the 2006 and 2008 election cycles, or an increase of 78%.  The ranking of this group rose to #4 during the current  2010 election cycle.

The insurance industry ranked #4 among industries contributing to political campaigns in 1990.  It had dropped to #6-#8 in the following 6 election cycles, eventually falling to #11 and recently rebounding to the #8 position.  In actual dollars the Insurance industry has increased its' giving to our politicians from $31.3M to $46.7M between the 2006 and 2008 election cycles, a 49.3% increase in 'giving'.

The amorphous group identified as Lobbyists jumped from a ranking of #15 in 2008 to #9 in 2010 election cycle with actual dollars donated to their favorite politicians jumping from $24.1M in 2006 to $35.1M in 2008.  I'm not sure how to interpret this but thought I would include it.

Health Services/HMOs upped their political contributions from $8.3M in 2006,  $14.1M in 2008 an increase in political donations of 70%.    

Hospitals & Nursing Homes dug deep in 2006 and donated $14.1M, which increased to $22.9M in 2008, an increase of 62%.

Pharmaceuticals / Health Products donated $19.5M in 2006, which increased to $29.1M in 2008, an increase of 49%.   This group jumped in rank from 21 to 13 in 2010 election cycle.

Some of these increases in donations can be attributed to the presidential election in 2007, but it would be a stretch to think they all were just a reflection of that.  Healthcare reform has been widely anticipated by these industries, and spending has been proportionate, and not all of it, (particularly from the healthcare professionals), was donated with an expectation of defeating the reforms, however much of this cash is given to politicians with a tacit understanding that the favor will be reciprocated.

 
For fun I looked at the top 20 recipients of money donated to politicians from the insurance industry, Health Professionals, Health Services/HMOs,  Hospitals/Nursing Homes, and Pharmaceuticals/health Products to see how much overlap was there.  Not surprisingly there were a lot of double entries in these different industries, that enjoy the financial support of the industries they are charged with regulating.  I didn't do an exhaustive examination of the names in these 'Top 20' lists, but enough stuck out, for either multiple appearances or for the amount of money they enjoy from the sector of the economy currently scheduled for 'reformation'.  Some of the names may have enjoyed higher campaign donations from the sector due to their position as a candidate for the presidency, while others may receive these donations due to their positions of influence in the various committees they are appointed to in the US legislature.  Either way, they are taking the money, and some of them in much greater amounts than others.  Here's a brief overview of the Top 20  repeat offenders, committee assignments, and the ranking of the contributing industry in their pantheon of patrons, ranked in order of total dollars received from these various industries from 2005-2010.  If someone appeared on these lists, but was no longer holding elected office, they aren't mentioned here. 

John McCain. #7. Health Professionals    $5,291,262,  #10 Insurance $2,386,480.  Total take:  $7,677,742.

Max Baucus, (Finance Committee Chair).    #3 Insurance    $545,725, Health Professionals    $499,641, Pharmaceuticals/Health Products    $494,313, Health Services/HMOs,    $345,500,  Hospitals/Nursing Homes    $344,326.  Total Take:  $2,229,505.

Mitch McConnell,  (Appropriations Committee). #5  Health Professionals    $696,450,  #10 Pharmaceuticals/Health Products    $409,235,  #14 Insurance    $314,933,  #17 Hospitals/Nursing Homes    $274,050.  Total Take:  $1,694,728. 

John Cornyn, (Finance committee, Budget committee). #3 Health Professionals    $742,163,  #8 Insurance    $350,169,  #15 Pharmaceuticals/Health Products    $219,646.  Total take:  $1,311,978.

John Kyl, (Finance Committee, Subcommittee on Healthcare).  #4  Health Professionals    $651,883, #11      Insurance    $276,420,  #13 Pharmaceuticals/Health Products    $192,250,  #15 Hospitals/Nursing Homes    $179,055.  Total take:  $1,299,608.

Joe Lieberman,  #7 Insurance $423,644,  #8 Health Professionals $359,870,  #10 Pharmaceuticals/Health Products    $297,090, Total take:  $1,080,604.

Orrin Hatch, (Subcommittee on Health Care, HELP).  #2 Pharmaceuticals/Health Products    $423,681,  #5 Health Professionals    $215,650,  #6 Insurance    $160,169,  #9 Hospitals/Nursing Homes    $126,400,  #12 Health Services/HMOs    $94,500.  Total take:  $1.020,400.

Arlen Specter,  (Appropriations),  #4 Pharmaceuticals/Health Products $360,799, #7  Health Professionals  $274,683, #10  Hospitals/Nursing Homes  $187,066, #11 Insurance $149,223.  Total take:  $971,771.

Rick Santorum, (Finance Committee).    #4  Pharmaceuticals/Health Products    $360,799,  #7 Health Professionals    $274,683,      #10 Hospitals/Nursing Homes    $187,066,  #11 Insurance    $149,223.   Total take:  $971,770.

Edward Kennedy, (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee Chair), #2 Pharmaceuticals/Health Products    $292,340,      #10  Health Professionals    $166,081,  #11 Hospitals/Nursing Homes    $127,812,  #15 Insurance    $76,400.  Total Take:  $662,633.

John Kerry, (Subcommittee On Health Care).  #7 Insurance    $91,036,  #14 Hospitals/Nursing Homes    $62,050,  #15 Health Professionals    $61,448,  #16 Pharmaceuticals/Health Products    $60,530,  #19 Health Services/HMOs    $51,380.  Total Take:  $326,044.

Charles Rangel,  (Ways and Means Committee Chair ), #1 Health Professionals $33,000, #2  Insurance    $31,500,      #6  Pharmaceuticals/Health Products    $14,500,  #16      Misc Health    $2,400    ,  #20 Hospitals/Nursing Homes    $2,400.  Total take:  $55.450.

We can interpret these numbers in a variety of ways, and I'm sure the individual politician's office would have some handy explanations about various industries being located in their home district, and what not.  One thing that struck me is that aside from Max Baucus, the Republicans and Blue Dogs are finding this sector much more lucrative than the Dems, although this may be due to the fact that their party has been in power longer than the Dems have been.  Or it may be that an obstructionist to change is worth much more to these industries than a pol who actually wants to make things work better than they currently do.  It also seems obvious that the Senate is the primary target of these industries as to wielding influence in the outcome of healthcare reform legislation.  These industries give to everyone across the political spectrum, so the fact that anyone has received monies from them is not unusual, and is to be expected.  However the proportionate amount of money received may tell a different story.  A story that would be backed by past services rendered, and future services expected.  Tell these guys we've got their numbers.  Keep your eye on the ball, (money), with health care reform, and watch for the roll out and fake from Congress and especially the Senate.

Addendum:  Brain fart made me not consider this.  Barack Obama's figures vis a vis healthcare sector political donations:

#4  Health Professionals  $11,532,962, #Hospitals/nursing homes $3,205,041,  Insurance,  $2,211,348.  Total take:  $16,949,341, which makes BHO the guy at the top of the list.  Perhaps that explains his reluctance to lead on the single payer/public option issue.

And check this out from Nate Silver from fivethirtyeight.com.  The statistically modeled likelihood of supporting a public option against the amount of money raised for the candidate by Insurance PAC fundraising.