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With the health insurance reform debate going on in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party disagree about whether the United States needs a government-run health care “public option.” However, both sides are in agreement about the need for reform and health professional and insurance industries give millions of dollars to representatives on both sides of the political spectrum.
The health professional industry donated at total of $95,185,139 in 2008 and the insurance industry, which includes health insurance companies, gave $46,832,136. With Democrats lining up behind a public option plan, one would be surprised which elected official representing West Virginia received the most money from these industries.
Rockefeller received $107,174 from the insurance industry between 2003 and 2008. Of that total, $32,950 came from individuals and $74,224 came from Political Action Committees (PAC). Rockefeller also received $258,950 from the health professionals industry, of which $133,050 came from individuals and $125,900 came from PAC donations.
The largest donor to Rockefeller between 2007 and 2009 was the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The organization donated $500, while $15,000 came from 17 lobbyists the group hired.
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