Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-CT, Sen. Max Baucus, D-MT, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, (L to R) participate in a rally after a series of votes on the health care reform bill on Capitol Hill in Washington on December 22, 2009. The Senate voted 60-39 on strict party lines to move the bill forward. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg | License Photo
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, (LC), Sen. Max Baucus, D-MT, (R), Sen. Tom Harkin, D-IA, (L) and Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-CT, (RC) arrive for a rally after a series of votes on the health care reform bill on Capitol Hill in Washington on December 22, 2009. The Senate voted 60-39 on strict party lines to move the bill forward. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg | License Photo
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, (LC), Sen. Max Baucus, D-MT, (R), Sen. Tom Harkin, D-IA, (L) and Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-CT, (RC) arrive for a rally after a series of votes on the health care reform bill on Capitol Hill in Washington on December 22, 2009. The Senate voted 60-39 on strict party lines to move the bill forward. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg | License Photo
Sen. Tom Harkin, D-IA, Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-CT, Sen. Max Baucus, D-MT, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, (L to R) participate in a rally after a series of votes on the health care reform bill on Capitol Hill in Washington on December 22, 2009. The Senate voted 60-39 on strict party lines to move the bill forward. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg | License Photo
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, Sen. Max Baucus, D-MT, and Sen. Tom Harkin, D-IA, (L to R) participate in a rally after a series of votes on the health care reform bill on Capitol Hill in Washington on December 22, 2009. The Senate voted 60-39 on strict party lines to move the bill forward. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg | License Photo
Sen. Max Baucus, D-MT, chats with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina as the U.S. Senate casts a series of votes on the health care reform bill on Capitol Hill in Washington on December 22, 2009. The Senate voted 60-39 on strict party lines to move the bill forward. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg | License Photo
Sen. Max Baucus, D-MT, chats with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina as the U.S. Senate casts a series of votes on the health care reform bill on Capitol Hill in Washington on December 22, 2009. The Senate voted 60-39 on strict party lines to move the bill forward. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg | License Photo
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- The five U.S. senators managing floor debate on the massive healthcare reform bill list health interests among their biggest contributors, records indicate.
Sens. Max Baucus, D-Mont.; Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Chris Dodd, D-Conn.; Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa; and Mike Enzo, R-Wyo., all received contributions form healthcare interests, USA Today reported Tuesday.
Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and one of three Democrats managing the bill's movement on the floor, received more than $2.5 million from health-related PACs since 2005, the Center for Responsive Politics said. Healthcare interests also contributed to Grassley, the top Republican on the Finance Committee, donating more than $1.3 million to him between 2005-2009.
Jill Kozeny, Grassley's spokeswoman, said "no relationship" exists between contributions and legislation.
Baucus spokesman Tyler Matsdorf said the Montana Democrat has one goal when he works on legislation: "Do what's right for Montana and for the nation."
"Unless you're at the table, you're on the menu," said Michael Fleming, chairman of the American Academy of Family Physicians' PAC board. "We now have more visibility directly to members of Congress."
The other key players in the healthcare debate receiving health-related campaign contributions:
-- Dodd, who was temporary chair of the Senate health committee, received $210,050 this year from health-related political action committees.
-- Harkin, the new chairman of the Senate health panel, got $66,000 from healthcare PACs this year.
-- Enzo, the health committee's ranking Republican, received $27,000 from healthcare political action committees this year.
