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May 6, 2021

This week in money-in-politics

Pharma loses vaccine IP battle despite record Q1 lobbying

Despite spending a record-breaking $92 million to lobby the federal government in the first three months of 2021, pharmaceutical interests suffered a major loss on Wednesday when President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. will support some countries’ efforts to waive intellectual property protections on COVID-19 vaccines.

The industry’s spending in the first three months of 2021 represents a 6.3 percent increase over the same time period last year, putting drug companies on track to break their combined all-time spending record for the second year in a row. Private manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and health products typically far outspend other industries to lobby Washington. In 2021, the industry has already spent more than double the sum spent by the second highest-spending industry.

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Stefanik poised to win leadership spot with strong fundraising, Trump backing

House Republicans are expected to remove Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) from her leadership position, punishing the reliably conservative lawmaker for her continued criticism of former President Donald Trump. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) is the clear favorite to replace Cheney as the No. 3 House Republican. Trump, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) endorsed Stefanik Wednesday, all but ensuring her victory in an upcoming leadership vote. “Elise Stefanik is a far superior choice, and she has my COMPLETE and TOTAL Endorsement for GOP Conference Chair. Elise is a tough and smart communicator!” Trump said in a statement.
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Out-of-state donors power record Senate fundraising

Democratic senators in battleground states are raking in donations from out-of-state donors, amassing a hefty cash advantage over potential GOP challengers who haven’t launched Senate bids yet. Four of the most competitive 2022 Senate races are in states held by Democrats: Arizona, Georgia, New Hampshire and Nevada. Each of the incumbents in those states received more than three-quarters of their campaign cash from out-of-state donors in the first three months of 2021. The influx of national donations points to another historically expensive election. The 2018 midterms and 2020 election each smashed fundraising and spending records, driven by online donors bankrolling faraway congressional contests.
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FDA menthol cigarette ban riles tobacco lobby

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday moved to ban menthol cigarettes, dealing a blow to the tobacco industry that has aggressively lobbied to protect its highly addictive product from regulations. The FDA said its proposal aims to address longstanding health disparities. Tobacco companies have marketed menthol cigarettes to Black Americans for decades, leading to increased illness and death in Black communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 85 percent of Black smokers use menthol cigarettes, which are more addictive than traditional cigarettes. That’s compared to 29 percent of white smokers. The FDA noted that menthol brands also target young people and LGBTQ+ individuals.
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Gun control lobby spending rises as
Biden calls to end mass shootings

Lobbying spending by gun control groups rose in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period last year as a return to frequent mass shootings turned up the pressure for anti-gun violence legislation.

But gun control spending still trails that of gun-rights groups considerably.

Spending on gun control lobbying surged about 21 percent from January through March, compared with the same period in 2020, to $630,000. Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit largely funded and co-launched by former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, topped the list of industry lobbyist spenders for the 10th year in a row with $380,000. Gun control group Giffords came in second with $150,000.

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OpenSecrets in the News

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

Facebook Upholds Ban on Trump (US News and World Report)
"It's a really important tool," OpenSecrets Executive Director Sheila Krumholz says. "It's been the name of the game in the COVID era, where they're reaching people online instead of at an in-person fundraiser."
Republican groups covered $21,000 in travel costs for Missouri AG Eric Schmitt last year (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Two Republican groups covered more than $21,400 in travel and lodging costs for Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt last year, new filings with state ethics regulators show.
Democrats face growing list of swing-district retirements, dimming midterm prospects (The Washington Post)
The Democratic departures are likely to make it easier for mapmakers to draw maps that favor Republican pickups. They also mean Democrats will not fully take advantage of incumbency, with its fundraising and name recognition benefits.

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Stefanik poised to win leadership spot with strong fundraising, Trump backing

Out-of-state donors power record Senate fundraising

FDA menthol cigarette ban riles tobacco lobby

OpenSecrets in the News

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

Facebook Upholds Ban on Trump (US News and World Report) "It's a really important tool," OpenSecrets Executive Director Sheila Krumholz says. "It's been the name of the game in the COVID era, where they're reaching people online instead of at an in-person fundraiser."

Republican groups covered $21,000 in travel costs for Missouri AG Eric Schmitt last year (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) Two Republican groups covered more than $21,400 in travel and lodging costs for Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt last year, new filings with state ethics regulators show.

See more here

Facebook Upholds Ban on Trump (US News and World Report)
"It's a really important tool," OpenSecrets Executive Director Sheila Krumholz says. "It's been the name of the game in the COVID era, where they're reaching people online instead of at an in-person fundraiser."

Republican groups covered $21,000 in travel costs for Missouri AG Eric Schmitt last year (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Two Republican groups covered more than $21,400 in travel and lodging costs for Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt last year, new filings with state ethics regulators show.