Drug Industry
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the Washington-based trade group for the drug industry, reported in 2011 tax filings that it contributed $264,500 to the American Legislative Exchange Council, which championed among other issues voter-identification laws.
Phrma also gave $17,500 to two Congressional Black Caucus- affiliated groups. CBC members have likened voter-ID laws to “Jim Crow-era poll taxes and literacy tests that disenfranchised thousands of African-Americans.”
Matt Bennett, a Phrma senior vice president, said in response to a question about the group’s donations: “As part of our mission, Phrma often makes grants or charitable contributions to organizations that share Phrma’s goals of improving the quality of patients’ lives, increasing the availability of life-saving and life-enhancing medical treatments and supporting the discovery of new treatments and cures by pharmaceutical and biotechnology research companies.”
Merck & Co. gave $6.2 million to Phrma in 2011, according to the company’s website. Merck also contributed between $100,000 and $249,000 to the Black Caucus Foundation, the charity’s annual report said.
“The company supports organizations that champion innovation and public health issues and encourage debate and advocacy in support of our business and industry,” said Kelley Dougherty, a spokeswoman for Whitehouse Station, New Jersey- based Merck. “Funding of any one organization should not be construed to reflect support for all of the positions of that organization.”