Health News
- Health Care Industry Ranks First, By Far, In Legislative Lobbying Since '93; Insurance Second, Tobacco Third; Drugmakers' Rank A Mystery
By far, health-care interests have spent the most on lobbying the General Assembly since the Legislative Ethics Commission was created 22 years ago, Jonathan Meador of Insider Louisville discovered among many other things as he crunched the data filed...
- Altria, Parent Of Philip Morris, Reports Spending Most On Lobbying The 2014 Legislature But Says It Didn't Fight Smoking Ban
The parent firm of the nation's largest cigarette company again reported spending more than anyone else on lobbying the Kentucky General Assembly, but says it did not fight the bill that would have imposed a statewide smoking ban in most public places....
- To Fight Meds-for-meth Bill, Consumer Healthcare Products Association Spent Almost $500,000 In Last Session, A Record
The biggest spender to lobby the Kentucky legislature in the 2012 session was the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, which represents the over-the-counter drug industry. Of the $8.8 million spent in 2012 overall, the group spent nearly $500,000,...
- Meds-for-meth Bill Drew Record Lobbying Expenses, Not Even Including Radio And Newspaper Ad Campaigns
Makers of over-the-counter drugs spent more than any lobbying interest ever had during a single Kentucky legislative session in their effort to defeat a bill requiring prescriptions for the key ingredient in methamphetamine, Bill Estep reports for the...
- Health Care Is Top-spending Legislative Lobby In Kentucky
Kentucky's health-care industry spent about $1.5 million, more than any other industry, to lobby state legislators in in the first four months of the year. "Health care spending was led by hospital operators, who spent about $300,000, including...
Health News
Philip Morris's parent company and drug makers spent the most on lobbying the state legislature last year
The two biggest-spending lobbies of the state legislature last year were a tobacco company that opposes a statewide smoking ban and a group of drug makers who oppose a bill to require prescriptions for decongestants used to make methamphetamine.
The biggest spender, dropping $357,433 to lobby the General Assembly, was Altria Group, the parent company of Philip Morris USA. Altria is also a significant owner of SABMiller, and alcohol lobbies always have interests in play. The Consumer Healthcare Products Association was the second-biggest spender of 2010, paying $343,377. CHPA represents manufacturers and distributors of non-prescription, over-the-counter medication, who fear a loss of decongestant sales if the anti-meth bill becomes law.
All told, companies and advocacy groups spent $16.65 million lobbying the General Assembly last year, down about 3 percent from the last long session, in 2008. That session occurred before the economic recession, and the amount spent in 2010 on receptions, meals and events dropped significantly ? by 24 percent ? from 2008. In 2009, when a short session was held, about $15.3 million was spent on lobbying.
The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, which spent the most on lobbying in 2010, ranked third with spending of $211,935. University Health Care, which operates the Passport Health Plan, was fourth with $190,840. Passport came under fire last year after state Auditor Crit Luallen uncovered unnecessary spending on travel and entertainment, inflated salaries and a lack of oversight. After that review "and a change in management, UHC reduced its lobbying presence in the State Capitol from 13 lobbyists in 2010 to two lobbyists in 2011," says the January edition of Ethics Reporter, the monthly publication of the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission. (Read more)
The other organizations and businesses that spent more than $100,000 on lobbying last year are: Kentucky Medical Association ($133,274); Houchens Industries, a Bowling Green conglomerate ($132,000); the Kentucky Retail Federation ($127,803); the Keeneland Association ($121,661); the Kentucky Hospital Association ($120,113); CSX Corp. ($116,405); Kentucky Farm Bureau ($109,373); the Kentucky Justice Association, plaintiffs' lawyers ($105,543); Kentucky Education Association, teachers ($105,353); the Home Builders Association of Kentucky ($103,437); and Res-Care Inc., which operates residential programs for the disabled ($100,289).
To read a report from the Lexington Herald-Leader on the lobby spending, click here.
- Health Care Industry Ranks First, By Far, In Legislative Lobbying Since '93; Insurance Second, Tobacco Third; Drugmakers' Rank A Mystery
By far, health-care interests have spent the most on lobbying the General Assembly since the Legislative Ethics Commission was created 22 years ago, Jonathan Meador of Insider Louisville discovered among many other things as he crunched the data filed...
- Altria, Parent Of Philip Morris, Reports Spending Most On Lobbying The 2014 Legislature But Says It Didn't Fight Smoking Ban
The parent firm of the nation's largest cigarette company again reported spending more than anyone else on lobbying the Kentucky General Assembly, but says it did not fight the bill that would have imposed a statewide smoking ban in most public places....
- To Fight Meds-for-meth Bill, Consumer Healthcare Products Association Spent Almost $500,000 In Last Session, A Record
The biggest spender to lobby the Kentucky legislature in the 2012 session was the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, which represents the over-the-counter drug industry. Of the $8.8 million spent in 2012 overall, the group spent nearly $500,000,...
- Meds-for-meth Bill Drew Record Lobbying Expenses, Not Even Including Radio And Newspaper Ad Campaigns
Makers of over-the-counter drugs spent more than any lobbying interest ever had during a single Kentucky legislative session in their effort to defeat a bill requiring prescriptions for the key ingredient in methamphetamine, Bill Estep reports for the...
- Health Care Is Top-spending Legislative Lobby In Kentucky
Kentucky's health-care industry spent about $1.5 million, more than any other industry, to lobby state legislators in in the first four months of the year. "Health care spending was led by hospital operators, who spent about $300,000, including...