Lobbyists representing Genentech hosted at least four fundraisers for members of Congress who used language drafted by the company for insertion in the congressional record, shows an analysis of invitations collected in Party Time’s database.

The New York Times writes “Statements by more than a dozen lawmakers were ghostwritten, in whole or in part, by Washington lobbyists working for Genentech, one of the world’s largest biotechnology companies.”

Lobbyists for Roche, which acquired Genentech in March of 2009, have hosted events for at least 26 members of Congress since the merger, according to Party Time data. FireDogLake’s Marcy Wheeler has identified 18 members of Congress (Dems here, Republicans, here) who relied on the Genentech language . At least four of those elected officials show up linked to the Genentech hosted fundraisers.

Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) was scheduled to attend a breakfast fundraiser at the Phoenix Park Hotel on May 7.  The event was hosted by lobbyists David Jones and former Senate Finance Committee staff director James Gould, who count Roche as clients.

Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) held a fundraising breakfast at Bistro Bis on September 17. Lobbyist hosts included Darin Gardner and Anna Sagely, who lobby exclusively for Hoffman-La Roche,  as well as lobbyists Mat Lapinski, Chris Myrick, and Christine Pellerin, who have Roche on their client lists.

Darin Gardner and Christine Pellerin, legislative assistant to former Congressman Henry Bonilla (R-TX), also hosted Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX) for breakfast at Bistro Bis, also in May of this year.

Finally, Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) held a cocktails and cigars fundraiser for Women Impacting the Nation, a project of her leadership committee Common Sense Common Solutions, on September 21. More than two dozen lobbyists hosted the event, four of whom represent Roche:  Darin Gardner, Christine Pellerin, Anna Sageley and Mat Lapinkski–the same lobbyists responsible for the Conaway and Poe events.

Also of note: Kevin Connor of LittleSis.org connects Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), co-sponsor to a pharma friendly measure in the healthcare bill, to the mess via former legislative aid Nick Kolovos, who now lobbies on behalf of Genentech. Mark Kadesh, former chief of staff first to Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) and Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA), and now a Genentech lobbyist, was one of four hosts at a July 16 breakfast for Eshoo.

Click on the following individual names to see a full list of clients for each lobbyist: David Jones, James Gould, Darin Gardner, Christine Pellerin, Anna Sagely, Mat Lapinski, Chris Myrick, Mark Kadesh.

0 Comments