Four of the 10 largest spenders on lobbying for the first 6 months of 2014 are part of the health sector, the Center for Responsive Politics reported.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield was in third place overall, spending almost $11.3 million through the end of June, while the American Medical Association was fourth at $10.5 million, the American Hospital Association was seventh at $9.7 million, and PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America) was ninth with spending of just under $8.9 million, according to the center.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce far outdistanced the health sector, however, putting $54.3 million into its lobbying efforts in the first 6 months of 2014 – about $11 million more than the four health-sector representatives combined. The National Association of Realtors was the second-largest lobbyer, spending $23.6 million, the center’s lobbying data showed.
The data on the center’s OpenSecrets website are compiled using lobbying disclosure reports filed with the Secretary of the Senate’s Office of Public Records.
