Money
The insurance industry, the Business Roundtable and the Health Benefits Coalition lobbied against the Norwood-Dingell Patients' Bill of Rights, which would have allowed consumers to sue in state courts when treatment was delayed or denied. The pharmaceutical industry lobbied against a prescription-drug benefit for all Medicare beneficiaries. All four groups contributed heavily to Sen. John Ashcroft.
1994-98 Election Cycle
Insurance industry: $247,020
Business Roundtable: $614,750
Pharmaceutical industry: $66,549
2000 Election Cycle (to June 1)
Insurance industry: $67,500
Health Benefits Coalition: $52,500
Business Roundtable: $377,500
Pharmaceutical industry: $31,500
Sources: Federal Elections Commission and the Center for Responsive Politics.
Votes
Patients' Bill of Rights
Oct. 9, 1998: Ashcroft votes to table an AMA-backed Patients' Bill of Rights that would allow consumers with private health insurance to sue managed-care companies for delayed or denied care.
July 15, 1999: Ashcroft votes in favor of a business-backed version of the Patients' Bill of Rights that would not allow consumers to sue managed-care companies for delayed or denied care.
June 8: Ashcroft again votes to table a proposal to attach the AMA-backed measure to a spending bill.
June 29: Ashcroft votes in favor of amending a spending bill with the business-backed version of the Patients' Bill of Rights.
Prescription-Drug Benefit
March 25, 1999: Ashcroft votes to table a proposal to create a reserve fund for a prescription-drug benefit for all Medicare recipients.
July 29, 1999: Ashcroft votes against a second attempt to create a reserve fund for a Medicare drug benefit.
April 5: Ashcroft votes against a proposal requiring the Senate to debate a Medicare drug benefit before cutting taxes.
June 22: Ashcroft votes against a measure creating a prescription-drug benefit for all Medicare recipients.
