Your weekly money in politics newsletter.

March 30, 2023

Dear Friend of OpenSecrets,

Following another fatal mass shooting in Nashville, President Joe Biden has once again called for a ban on assault weapons. OpenSecrets took a deep dive into gun rights and gun control lobbying groups and how these groups have recently targeted legislation that would limit access to or ban assault weapons at the state and federal level.

Pharmacy benefit managers, the middlemen of the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain, are under the microscope for their role in the high price of prescription drugs. Our recent reporting takes a look at the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association and how they have sharply increased its federal lobbying spending to oppose legislation that would require managers to be more transparent in their business practices.

As always, enjoy your money-in-politics newsletter, and thank you for making our transparency work possible.

Sheila Krumholz

Gun rights groups continue to target state and federal assault weapons bans amid mass shootings

Amidst mass shootings, gun rights groups continue to target legislation regulating or banning assault weapons at the state and federal level.

Read more.

Pharmacy benefit managers trade association increased federal lobbying spending amid drug pricing scrutiny

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association has sharply increased its federal lobbying spending to oppose legislation that would require pharmacy benefit managers to be more transparent in their business practices.

Read more.

OpenSecrets in the News

See our media citations from outlets around the nation this week:

ConocoPhillips CEO Doubles Down on Alaska Oil as Competitors Leave Arctic (The Wall Street Journal)

The company shelled out nearly $8.7 million, according to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan group that tracks political spending—more than what Exxon or Chevron disbursed that year. It listed continued advocacy for Willow among other issues it was lobbying for, according to quarterly lobbying reports.

TikTok hires another former Biden aide in push to avoid US ban (The Hill)

TikTok and its parent company ByteDance spent $5.4 million on lobbying last year, according to nonpartisan research group OpenSecrets, its highest annual figure.

Republicans are seeking wealthy, self-funding candidates to help the party win a Senate majority in 2024, report says (Insider)

Warnock raised $180.9 million in his successful reelection bid, while his GOP opponent, former NFL star Herschel Walker, took in $73.2 million, according to OpenSecrets. Hassan raised $41.6 million for her winning campaign, while Republican Don Bolduc only raked in $4.2 million.

Bloomberg Government