WASHINGTON — The $100,000 monthly fee Novartis paid a company set up by President Trump’s personal attorney to help it better understand “U.S. healthcare policy matters” in the Trump era is almost four times more than it paid any actual outside lobbyist in the same time period.
None of the contracts for the nearly four dozen external lobbyists Novartis employs to help explain and advocate on health care policy issues came close to the amounts paid Essential Consultants LLC, according to a STAT review of the Swiss drug maker’s 2017 and 2018 filings.
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May I observe, Erin, that the actual amount is still rather fascinating -and you rounded it off!! Especially if Jose Jimenez (the then-current CEO) was in the loop, why make it precisely $99,980/ month – not the even $100,000 you wrote above? What did shaving the $20 prevent?
“Inquiring minds want to know” …. and, frankly, so should you, although Pharmalot/ Ed Silverman seems to have the point on this one.)
That’s whats called legalized crime. Lobbying is a disgusting business!