Medicare Part D triggers lobbying boom

The new Medicare prescription drug benefit scheduled to go into effect this year has set off a boom in healthcare lobbying, The New York Times reports. According to Political Money Line, a group which tracks private contributions to politicians, the healthcare industry spent $325 million in attempts to influence Congress and Federal agencies last year alone. "It is where the money is," says lobbyist Frederick Graefe. "Twenty years ago, the defense industry was dominant and had the most lobbyists. The big players now do healthcare."

- see this story from The New York Times