March 2005

Lobbying smarter ‑‑ and harder

Anti‑medical sentiment offers chiropractic golden opportunity

If the US Congress followed a strict "votes to the highest bidder" rule, chiropractic wouldn't stand a chance. After all, in 2003, according to a report by Public Citizen, the drug industry spent a record $108.6 million on federal lobbying activities. It had hired 824 individual lobbyists working at the Capitol ‑‑ more than eight lobbyists for each member of the US Senate.

The Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which represents more than 40 brand‑name drug companies, spent more than $16 million, a 12.5% increase from the year before. PhRMA alone hired 136 lobbyists, 24 more than in 2002.

In addition, the Public Citizen report noted, "Both the pharmaceutical and managed care industries relied heavily on lobbyists with 'revolving door' connections. In all, 431 lobbyists employed by the drug industry or HMOs ‑‑ or 45% of all their lobbyists ‑‑ previously worked for the federal government. Among them were 30 ex‑US senators and representatives." That buys a lot of support in Congress.

But there may be a light at the end of this particularly long and dismal tunnel. Drug companies may be contributing more money, but finding it harder to deliver the votes that mean re‑election. As the nation's attitude toward pharmaceutical companies turns negative, the influence of the drug industry may wane, at least enough to allow chiropractic to slip its foot in the door leading to legislative offices.

It seems impossible that chiropractic could overcome the drug industry on K Street, the downtown Washington, DC avenue where many lobbyists and lawyers have offices. But the impossible has happened before.

For years, the National Rifle Association (NRA) was considered the strongest and most effective lobbying group in Washington. Yet, following the 1981 attempted assassination of Pres. Ronald Reagan, public sentiment changed so radically, it couldn't prevent passage of the Brady bill despite vigorous lobbying, and spending (more than $2.5 billion to congressional candidates just one year before the bill passed).

The millions of dollars spent by the logging industry to influence Congress couldn't stand up to the pressure put on lawmakers by a public that was becoming increasingly concerned about the environment. And billions in tobacco money failed to stop many of the anti‑smoking programs and laws the industry opposed.

In recent months, the drug industry has suffered a black eye as insiders have come forward to expose its "dirty secrets." Books such as "The Truth About the Drug Companies: How They Deceive Us and What to Do About It," by former New England Journal of Medicine editor Marcia Angell, and "The Big Fix: How the Pharmaceutical Industry Rips Off American Consumers," by Katherine Greider, have helped turn public sentiment against the drug industry.

Many legislators, while accepting campaign contributions, are either attempting to distance themselves from pharmaceutical companies or trying to balance their voting record by supporting legislation that will please their anti‑drug company constituents.

This provides a golden opportunity for chiropractic to effectively lobby for bills that will protect the rights of all DCs and their patients, and prevent the medical industry from shoving the profession into the "low back pain in adults" box. The Chiropractors for Wellness Political Action Committee (PAC) is poised to take advantage of that opportunity, using already strong political alliances to further its political agenda of creating a pro‑chiropractic climate in Congress. Knowing how to lobby smarter ‑‑ and harder ‑‑ than the medical and drug industries will allow chiropractic's voice to be heard.

In rallying radiologists to support the PAC for their profession, Jeffrey J. Brown, MD and Ronald G. Evens, MD stated in an article for Radiology: "Congress responds to groups that care deeply about issues. An interest group that is passionate about a particular cause can wield greater political influence than a much larger group of people whose feelings are in opposition but not as deeply held."

DCs who are passionate about their particular cause ‑‑ chiropractic as a unique and drug‑free profession ‑‑ can help by supporting Chiropractors for Wellness PAC. For more information, visit www.chiropractorsforwellnesspac.com. To make a donation, call 800‑347‑1011.