5. Billy Tauzin « The Washington Independent
The former chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee parlayed his congressional influence into a lucrative contract as president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) — and the move paid off handsomely for both parties. After Baucus and the White House secured an $80 billion deal with PhRMA early in the reform debate, Senate leaders worked to protect the drug makers from a series of measures that would cut deeper into industry profits. went down in flames in the Finance Committee in September. More recently, PhRMA lobbying killed legislation that would have allowed Americans to buy drugs abroad at lower costs. And like the insurance companies, the drug makers can only benefit from having millions of new Americans covered under health plans. Meanwhile, the drug companies remain among the most profitable in the country.
