Lobbyists' Influence on Congressional Record Revealed in Email Exchanges

In a rare instance, email exchanges between Washington lobbyists and lawmakers have revealed a coordinated effort to influence the Congressional Record. The communications, obtained by The New York Times, show that lobbyists working for Genentech, a Swiss drug giant, drafted statements for lawmakers to submit to the Congressional Record. These statements, often identical in wording, were intended to demonstrate bipartisan support for certain provisions in a health care overhaul bill. Lawmakers from both parties, including 22 Republicans and 20 Democrats, picked up talking points from the lobbyists, with some even acknowledging the influence.

Key Takeaways:

• Over a dozen lawmakers had their statements in the Congressional Record ghostwritten by Washington lobbyists working for Genentech.
• Lobbyists employed by Genentech and two Washington law firms drafted separate statements for Democrats and Republicans.
• 42 House members used Genentech's talking points, with 22 Republicans and 20 Democrats.
• Representative Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ) expressed regret over using identical language in his statement.
• Lobbyists Matthew L. Berzok and lobbyists at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal disseminated the statements to lawmakers.
• Genentech's employees and lobbyists have maintained campaign contributions to many House members who filed statements in the Congressional Record.
• Evan L. Morris, head of Genentech's Washington office, denied any connection between campaign contributions and the statements.
• The statements were intended to show bipartisan support for provisions in the health care overhaul bill, rather than to influence the bill's passage.

Statistics:

• 42 House members used Genentech's talking points.
• 22 Republicans and 20 Democrats picked up Genentech's talking points.
• 12 lawmakers had their statements ghostwritten by lobbyists.
• The e-mail messages and attachments indicate that statements were based on information supplied by Genentech employees to Matthew L. Berzok.
• Since 2007, Genentech's political action committee and lobbyists for Roche and Genentech have made over $100,000 in campaign contributions to many House members.

Sources:

• "Lobbyists' Influence on Congressional Record Revealed in Email Exchanges" by Robert Pear, The New York Times, October 2009.
• Interviews with Representative Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ) and Evan L. Morris, head of Genentech's Washington office.