WASHINGTON -- As former doctors and staunch Republicans, U.S. Reps. Tom Price of Roswell and Phil Gingrey of Marietta have been outspoken critics of Democrats' health care plans.
And doctors and health care industry lobbyists have showered them with campaign contributions.
Campaign finance data released Friday shows that almost three-fourths of the nearly $423,400 in individual contributions that Price's reelection campaign took in during the past three months came from doctors and other medical professionals.
Much of the $367,500 Price took in from political action committees and other lobbying groups during the quarter also came from health-related lobbying organizations, such as the American Academy of Dermatology, the American College of Surgeons and the American Hospital Association.
About a quarter of the nearly $400,000 in individual donations that Gingrey received during the quarter came from doctors and other medical professionals, Federal Election Commission reports released Friday show. Among major PACs that also donated to Gingrey's reelection campaign were the American College of Radiology, the American Hospital Association and other health-related lobbying groups.
To be sure, money from the health care industry is flowing to all corners of Congress and to both sides of the political aisle. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, a non-profit, non-partisan government watchdog group, the health care sector -- not including insurance companies -- made nearly $29 million in campaign contributions in the first six months of this year alone.
About 60 percent of that amount went to Democrats -- and no politician has gotten more campaign contributions from the health sector than President Barack Obama. Obama raked in nearly $20 million from health industry interests during the presidential campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
"Nothing even comes close," to Obama's donations from health care concerns, said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the group.
Yet Price and Gingrey stand out.
Among the 435 members of the U.S. House, Price is No. 6 in overall contributions from the health sector, and Gingrey is No. 10, according to Center for Responsive Politics data -- despite the fact that neither is in a particularly powerful position in the Congress when it comes to drafting health care reform.
"Being a former doctor is certainly a powerful magnet," Krumholz said. "Putting aside (their) views on health care reform, doctors may be more confident when (former doctors are) representing their views."
Leading the list of health care contribution recipients among U.S. House members are Democratic Reps. Charlie Rangel of New York, Frank Pallone of New Jersey and Steny Hoyer of Maryland; followed by Republican Reps. Joe Barton of Texas, Roy Blunt of Missouri and Price.
A spokesman for Price said his large health sector donations shows that doctors and the industry support his views and his opposition to Democrats' plans. He disputed any suggestion that campaign contributions influenced Price's position.
"The folks who contribute to Congressman Price's campaign support the positions he takes, not the other way around," spokesman Brendan Buck said.
Gingrey's office responded similarly.
"As a physician, Congressman Gingrey supports patient – not government – centered health care solutions," spokeswoman Stephanie Valle said in a statement. "It is not a surprise that his colleagues in the medical community who agree (with him) support him.
"Simply put, those who believe in Congressman Gingrey’s positions support his campaign," she said.
Valle added that Gingrey "has never let any contribution influence any vote or action as an elected official."
U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, a Republican from Athens, also is a former doctor, received campaign contributions from doctors and medical industry lobbyists, but not nearly as much as Price and Gingrey.
Among Georgia's Democrats in Congress, U.S. Rep. John Lewis was apparently the biggest recipient of campaign donations from health-related donors in the third quarter, though he received much less than Price and Gingrey.
In all, Lewis raised about $203,300 from PACs and other lobbyists during the quarter, though most was from groups outside of the health care industry. That was about on par with past quarters. Recent contributors included the American Hospital Association the American Nurses Association and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.
A spokeswoman for Lewis did not respond to questions about his campaign finances.
Also among major recipients of money from health industry related donors is Republican U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss.
Third-quarter Federal Election Commission reports for Chambliss and other senators were not available on Friday. But according to Center for Responsive Politics figures, Chambliss raised nearly $1.7 million from health sector donors during his nearly seven years in the Senate.
U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, also a Republican, has raised about $970,000 from health sector interests during his four years in office.
Last week, a separate non-partisan, non-profit watchdog group called Maplight.org released data that shows Chambliss was one of the biggest recipients of campaign funding from health insurance companies between January 2003 and June 2009.
In a statement, Chambliss said those contributions don't affect his political positions.
"With respect to health care, my interest is the Georgians I meet with on a daily basis, including more than 1,000 in August alone," Chambliss said. "It is their views I represent in Washington."
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