Lobbyists' Influence on Congressional Record Revealed in Email Exchanges

Strategic Insights -

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.