Health care lobbying reaches record numbers

US interest groups and corporations spent more than $3 billion last year lobbying Congress.  And as the debate on health care reform intensifies, the amount of money that the health industry spends on lobbying appears to be increasing.

Reports filed with Congress on Monday show that 22 health related companies and associations spent more than $1 million each, on lobbying over the past three months. The Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America topped the list, spending $6.5 million in lobbying activities during April, May and June of this year.

FSRN spoke to Dave Levinthal from the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan think tank that tracks where money goes in US politics and its impact on policy making.