Medical device makers dropped at least $623,250 on the 2011-2012 election cycle, according to a MassDevice examination of a federal database that tracks corporate donations to legislators and political actions committees, known as PACs.
Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) alone accounted for more than 45 percent of the donations, spending a total of $282,000 — nearly $100,000 to individual members of Congress and the rest to various PACs, according to the Federal Election Commission’s online database.
The runner-up in terms of total spent was ABT rival Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ). The healthcare conglomerate laid down $117,000 (itself good for nearly 19 percent of the total), spending $26,500 on legislators and the balance on PACs, our search of the database revealed.
Other donors included Baxter International (NYSE:BAX), Becton, Dickinson (NYSE:BDX), Boston Scientific Corp. (NYSE:BSX), Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW), Fresenius (NYSE:FMS), General Electric (NYSE:GE), Kinetic Concepts Inc. (NYSE:KCI), Philips (NYSE:PHG), Steris (NYSE:STE), St. Jude Medical (NYSE:STJ) and Zimmer Holdings (NYSE:ZMH):
| Donations by company | |||||
| Company | Individuals | PACs | TOTAL | ||
| Abbott | $97,000 | $185,000 | $282,000 | ||
| Baxter International | $5,000 | $5,000 | |||
| Becton, Dickinson | $18,500 | $18,500 | |||
| Boston Scientific | $43,500 | $23,500 | $67,000 | ||
| Edwards Lifesciences | $21,000 | $21,000 | |||
| Fresenius | $23,500 | $13,000 | $36,500 | ||
| General Electric | $18,000 | $6,000 | $24,000 | ||
| Johnson & Johnson | $26,500 | $90,500 | $117,000 | ||
| Kinetic Concepts | $11,000 | $11,000 | |||
| Philips | $26,250 | $26,250 | |||
| Steris | $6,000 | $6,000 | |||
| St. Jude Medical | $7,000 | $7,000 | |||
| Zimmer | $2,000 | $2,000 | |||
| TOTAL | $623,250 |
Donations to PACs tended toward committees that donated primarily to Republican candidates or causes. Of the 41 PACs in the dataset, a mere 15 — about 37 percent — donated primarily to Democrats. Life sciences-oriented PACs including the Advanced Medical Technology Assn. ($5,000 from Abbott during the cycle) accounted for about 7.3 percent of the donations, with Republicans pulling down the rest:
| DONATIONS TO PACs | ||
| PAC | Amount | Company |
| 21St Century Majority Fund | $2,000 | Abbott |
| Advanced Medical Technology Association Political Action Committee |
$5,000 | Abbott |
| Biotechnology Industry Organization Pac (Bio Pac) | $5,000 | Abbott |
| Blue Dog Political Action Committee | $5,000 | Abbott |
| Blue Dog Political Action Committee | $5,000 | JNJ |
| Building A Majority Pac (Bampac) | $2,500 | Abbott |
| Building A Majority Pac (Bampac) | $2,500 | Abbott |
| Building Relationships In Diverse Geographic Environments Pac (Bridge Pac) |
$5,000 | Abbott |
| Committee For Hispanic Causes/Building Our Leadership Diversity Pac (Chc Bold Pac) |
$5,000 | JNJ |
| Common Values Pac | $5,000 | Abbott |
| Congressional Black Caucus Pac | $5,000 | JNJ |
| Continuing A Majority Party Action Committee (Campac) | $2,000 | Abbott |
| Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee | $15,000 | Abbott |
| Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee | $15,000 | JNJ |
| Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee | $15,000 | Abbott |
| Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee | $15,000 | JNJ |
| Every Republican Is Crucial (Ericpac) | $2,500 | Abbott |
| Every Republican Is Crucial (Ericpac) | $2,500 | Abbott |
| Every Republican Is Crucial (Ericpac) | $5,000 | BSX |
| Every Republican Is Crucial (Ericpac) | $2,500 | FMS |
| Every Republican Is Crucial (Ericpac) | $2,500 | JNJ |
| Freedom Fund | $1,000 | Abbott |
| Freedom Project; The | $5,000 | Abbott |
| Freedom Project; The | $5,000 | BSX |
| Freedom Project; The | $5,000 | JNJ |
| Glacier Pac | $5,000 | FMS |
| Gop Generation Y Fund | $5,000 | Abbott |
| Heartland Values Pac | $2,500 | Abbott |
| Kidney Care Partners Political Action Committee (Kcp Pac) | $2,000 | Abbott |
| Lincoln Pac | $5,000 | Abbott |
| Lone Star Leadership Pac | $2,000 | Abbott |
| Long Leaf Pine Pac | $1,000 | JNJ |
| Majority Initiative To Keep Electing Republicans Fund A.K.A Mike R Fund |
$5,000 | Abbott |
| National Republican Congressional Committee | $15,000 | Abbott |
| National Republican Congressional Committee | $15,000 | JNJ |
| National Republican Senatorial Committee | $15,000 | Abbott |
| National Republican Senatorial Committee | $15,000 | JNJ |
| New Democrat Coalition Political Action Committee Aka Ndc Pac | $5,000 | Abbott |
| New Democrat Coalition Political Action Committee Aka Ndc Pac | $2,500 | BSX |
| New Jersey Democratic State Committee | $2,000 | JNJ |
| Next Century Fund | $5,000 | Abbott |
| Next Century Fund | $5,000 | BSX |
| Next Century Fund | $3,000 | FMS |
| Orrinpac | $5,000 | Abbott |
| People For Enterprise Trade And Economic Growth (Pete Pac) | $5,000 | Abbott |
| Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers Of America Better Government Committee |
$5,000 | Abbott |
| Pioneer Political Action Committee | $5,000 | Abbott |
| Preserving America’S Traditions (Patpac) | $1,000 | Abbott |
| Republican Mainstreet Partnership Pac | $5,000 | Abbott |
| Republican Mainstreet Partnership Pac | $5,000 | JNJ |
| Republican Majority Fund | $2,500 | BSX |
| Republican Operation To Secure And Keep A Majority (Roskam Pac) | $5,000 | Abbott |
| Republican Operation To Secure And Keep A Majority (Roskam Pac) | $2,500 | FMS |
| Searchlight Leadership Fund | $5,000 | Abbott |
| Tenn Political Action Committee Inc (Tenn Pac) | $5,000 | Abbott |
| Tenn Political Action Committee Inc (Tenn Pac) | $2,500 | BSX |
| Treasure State Pac | $1,000 | GE |
| Tuesday Group Political Action Committee | $5,000 | Abbott |
| Tuesday Group Political Action Committee | $5,000 | GE |
| Value In Electing Women Political Action Committee | $2,500 | Abbott |
| Value In Electing Women Political Action Committee | $1,000 | BSX |
| TOTAL | $318,000 |
Here’s a look at how the donations broke down by chamber and candidate:
| DONATIONS TO LEGISLATORS |
Donations to Legislators | ||||||
| Chamber | First | Last | Party | State-District | Amount | Source | TOTAL |
| HOUSE | |||||||
| Rep. | Jason | Altmire | D | Pa.-4th | $2,500 | Abbott | $2,500 |
| Rep. | John J. | Barrow | D | Ga.-12th | $2,500 | Fresenius | $2,500 |
| Rep. | Charles F. | Bass | R | N.H.-2nd | $750 | Philips | $1,750 |
| Rep. | Charles F. | Bass | $1,000 | Philips | |||
| Rep. | Xavier | Becerra | D | Ca.-23rd | $2,500 | Boston Scientific | $2,500 |
| Rep. | Brian P | Bilbray | R | Ca.-50th | $4,000 | Abbott | |
| Rep. | Brian P | Bilbray | $1,000 | Becton, Dickinson | |||
| Rep. | Brian P | Bilbray | $1,000 | Boston Scientific | |||
| Rep. | Brian P | Bilbray | $1,000 | Edwards Lifesciences | |||
| Rep. | Brian P | Bilbray | $1,000 | Johnson & Johnson | |||
| Rep. | Brian P | Bilbray | $1,000 | St. Jude Medical | $9,000 | ||
| Rep. | Diane L Mrs. | Black | R | Tenn.-6th | $1,000 | Abbott | $5,500 |
| Rep. | Diane L Mrs. | Black | $1,000 | Boston Scientific | |||
| Rep. | Diane L Mrs. | Black | $1,000 | Fresenius | |||
| Rep. | Diane L Mrs. | Black | $2,500 | Fresenius | |||
| Rep. | Marsha Mrs. | Blackburn | R | Tenn.-7th | $1,000 | Johnson & Johnson | $1,000 |
| Rep. | John A | Boehner | R | Ohio-8th | $5,000 | Abbott | $10,000 |
| Rep. | John A | Boehner | $5,000 | Johnson & Johnson | |||
| Rep. | Charles Dr. Jr. | Boustany | R | La.-7th | $1,000 | Abbott | $3,500 |
| Rep. | Charles Dr. Jr. | Boustany | $2,500 | Fresenius | |||
| Rep. | Michael C. Dr. | Burgess | R | Texas-26th | $1,000 | Abbott | $3,000 |
| Rep. | Michael C. Dr. | Burgess | $2,000 | Boston Scientific | |||
| Rep. | David Lee | Camp | R | Mich.-4th | $2,000 | Abbott | $4,500 |
| Rep. | David Lee | Camp | $1,000 | Philips | |||
| Rep. | David Lee | Camp | $1,500 | Philips | |||
| Rep. | John Bt Iii | Campbell | R | Ca.-48th | $5,000 | Edwards Lifesciences | $5,000 |
| Rep. | Eric | Cantor | R | Va.-7th | $2,500 | Abbott | $2,500 |
| Rep. | Hansen | Clarke | D | Mich.-13th | $1,000 | Becton, Dickinson | $1,000 |
| Rep. | James E. | Clyburn | D | S.C.-6th | $2,500 | Abbott | $2,500 |
| Rep. | Joseph | Crowley | D | N.Y.-7th | $1,500 | Abbott | $1,500 |
| Rep. | Diana L. | Degette | D | Colo.-1st | $5,000 | Abbott | $5,000 |
| Rep. | John D. Mr. | Dingell | D | Mich.-1st | $2,000 | Abbott | $2,000 |
| Rep. | Anna | Eshoo | D | Calif.-14th | $2,500 | Abbott | $2,500 |
| Rep. | Rodney P. | Frelinghuysen | R | N.J.-11th | $1,000 | Philips | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Marcia L | Fudge | D | Ohio-11th | $1,000 | Abbott | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Jim | Gerlach | R | Pa.-6th | $2,000 | Johnson & Johnson | $2,000 |
| Rep. | J. Phillip | Gingrey | R | Ga.-11th | $1,000 | Abbott | $4,500 |
| Rep. | J. Phillip | Gingrey | $2,500 | Johnson & Johnson | |||
| Rep. | J. Phillip | Gingrey | $1,000 | St. Jude Medical | |||
| Rep. | John Timothy | Griffin | R | Ark.-2nd | $1,000 | Abbott | $1,000 |
| Rep. | S. Brett Hon. | Guthrie | R | Ky.-2nd | $1,000 | Philips | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Nan | Hayworth | R | N.Y.-19th | $1,000 | Boston Scientific | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Wally | Herger | R | Calif.-2nd | $1,000 | Fresenius | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Mike | Honda | D | Calif.-15th | $1,000 | Abbott | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Steny Hamilton | Hoyer | D | Md.-5th | $2,500 | Abbott | $2,500 |
| Rep. | Steny Hamilton | Hoyer | $1,000 | Becton, Dickinson | |||
| Rep. | Jay R Mr. | Inslee | D | Wash.-1st | $2,000 | Abbott | $2,000 |
| Rep. | Darrell | Issa | R | Calif.-49th | ($1,000) | Abbott | ($1,000) |
| Rep. | Darrell | Issa | $1,000 | St. Jude Medical | |||
| Rep. | Lynn | Jenkins | R | Kan.-2nd | $1,000 | Boston Scientific | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Samuel Robert | Johnson | R | Texas-3rd | $1,000 | Abbott | $1,000 |
| Rep. | James D. | Jordan | R | Ohio-4th | $1,000 | Philips | $1,000 |
| Rep. | William Richard | Keating | D | Mass.-10th | $1,000 | Boston Scientific | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Ron | Kind | D | Wis.-3rd | $1,000 | Edwards Lifesciences | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Ron | Kind | $750 | Philips | |||
| Rep. | John Heddens | Kingston | R | Ga.-1st | $2,000 | Steris | |
| Rep. | Thomas | Latham | R | Iowa-4th | $5,000 | Abbott | $5,000 |
| Rep. | Thomas | Latham | R | Iowa-4th | $1,000 | Boston Scientific | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Steven C | Latourette | R | Ohio-14th | $750 | Philips | $750 |
| Rep. | Sander M Mr | Levin | D | Mich.-12th | $2,000 | Abbott | $2,000 |
| Rep. | Zoe | Lofgren | D | Calif.-16th | $750 | Philips | $750 |
| Rep. | Joe Iii | Manchin | D | W.Va. | $1,000 | Philips | $1,000 |
| Rep. | James D | Matheson | D | Utah-2nd | $5,000 | Abbott | $16,000 |
| Rep. | James D | Matheson | $3,000 | Becton, Dickinson | |||
| Rep. | James D | Matheson | $3,000 | Boston Scientific | |||
| Rep. | James D | Matheson | $5,000 | Edwards Lifesciences | |||
| Rep. | Kevin | Mccarthy | R | Calif.-22nd | $1,000 | Abbott | $13,000 |
| Rep. | Kevin | Mccarthy | $2,500 | Abbott | |||
| Rep. | Kevin | Mccarthy | $5,000 | Boston Scientific | |||
| Rep. | Kevin | Mccarthy | $2,500 | Fresenius | |||
| Rep. | Kevin | Mccarthy | $2,000 | Johnson & Johnson | |||
| Rep. | Jim | Mcgovern | D | Mass.-3rd | $1,000 | Steris | |
| Rep. | Tim | Murphy | R | Pa.-18th | $1,000 | Johnson & Johnson | $2,000 |
| Rep. | Tim | Murphy | $1,000 | Zimmer | |||
| Rep. | Kristi Lynn | Noem | R | S.D.-at large | $1,000 | Boston Scientific | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Devin G | Nunes | R | Calif.-21st | $2,500 | Abbott | $3,500 |
| Rep. | Devin G | Nunes | $1,000 | Boston Scientific | |||
| Rep. | Frank Jr | Pallone | D | N.J.-6th | $1,000 | Becton, Dickinson | $1,750 |
| Rep. | Frank Jr | Pallone | $750 | Philips | |||
| Rep. | William J. Hon. Jr. | Pascrell | D | N.J.-8th | $1,000 | Becton, Dickinson | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Erik | Paulsen | R | Minn.-3rd | $3,000 | Boston Scientific | $5,000 |
| Rep. | Erik | Paulsen | $1,000 | Johnson & Johnson | |||
| Rep. | Erik | Paulsen | $1,000 | St. Jude Medical | |||
| Rep. | Joseph R. | Pitts | R | Pa.-16th | $1,500 | Philips | $2,500 |
| Rep. | Joseph R. | Pitts | $1,000 | St. Jude Medical | |||
| Rep. | Dave | Reichert | R | Wash.-8th | $500 | Philips | $500 |
| Rep. | Silvestre | Reyes | D | Texas-16th | $1,000 | Fresenius | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Cedric L. | Richmond | D | La.-2nd | $1,000 | Abbott | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Harold Dallas | Rogers | R | Ky.-5th | $1,000 | Philips | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Michael | Rogers | R | Ala.-3rd | $1,000 | Fresenius | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Michael J | Rogers | R | Mich.-8th | $2,500 | Abbott | $2,500 |
| Rep. | Peter | Roskam | R | Ill.-6th | $5,000 | Abbott | $9,000 |
| Rep. | Peter | Roskam | $2,000 | Boston Scientific | |||
| Rep. | Peter | Roskam | $1,000 | Philips | |||
| Rep. | Peter | Roskam | $1,000 | St. Jude Medical | |||
| Rep. | Steven R. | Rothman | D | N.J.-9th | $1,000 | Becton, Dickinson | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Lucille | Roybal-Allard | D | Calif.-34th | $2,000 | Johnson & Johnson | $2,000 |
| Rep. | Jon | Runyan | R | N.J.-3rd | $1,500 | Johnson & Johnson | $1,500 |
| Rep. | Paul D. | Ryan | R | Wis.-1st | $2,000 | Abbott | $4,000 |
| Rep. | Paul D. | Ryan | $2,000 | Abbott | |||
| Rep. | Kurt | Schrader | D | Ore.-5th | $2,000 | Abbott | $2,000 |
| Rep. | John M | Shimkus | R | Ill.-9th | $1,000 | Abbott | $4,500 |
| Rep. | John M | Shimkus | $2,500 | Boston Scientific | |||
| Rep. | John M | Shimkus | $1,000 | Philips | |||
| Rep. | Adrian | Smith | R | Neb.-3rd | $1,000 | Becton, Dickinson | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Lamar | Smith | R | Neb.-3rd | $1,000 | Philips | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Clifford Bundy | Stearns | R | Fla.-6th | $1,000 | Philips | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Marlin A | Stutzman | R | Ind.-3rd | $1,000 | Zimmer | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Bennie G. | Thompson | D | Miss.-2nd | $1,500 | Abbott | $1,500 |
| Rep. | Glenn Mr. | Thompson | R | Pa.-5th | $1,000 | Kinetic Concepts | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Mike Mr. | Thompson | D | Calif.-1st | $2,000 | Abbott | $8,000 |
| Rep. | Mike Mr. | Thompson | $1,000 | Becton, Dickinson | |||
| Rep. | Mike Mr. | Thompson | $5,000 | Johnson & Johnson | |||
| Rep. | Paul David | Tonko | D | N.Y.-21st | $1,000 | General Electric | |
| Rep. | Paul David | Tonko | $1,000 | General Electric | |||
| Rep. | Paul David | Tonko | $750 | Philips | |||
| Rep. | Michael Rep | Turner | R | Ohio-3rd | $1,000 | General Electric | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Frederick Stephen | Upton | R | Mich.-6th | $2,500 | Boston Scientific | $7,000 |
| Rep. | Frederick Stephen | Upton | $1,000 | General Electric | |||
| Rep. | Frederick Stephen | Upton | $2,000 | General Electric | |||
| Rep. | Frederick Stephen | Upton | $1,500 | Philips | |||
| Rep. | Gregory P Mr. | Walden | R | Ore.-2nd | $2,000 | Abbott | $3,000 |
| Rep. | Gregory P Mr. | Walden | $1,000 | Philips | |||
| Rep. | Peter | Welch | D | Vt.-at large | $1,000 | General Electric | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Allen B | West | R | Fla.-22nd | $1,000 | General Electric | $1,000 |
| Rep. | Wayne Edward | Whitfield | R | Ky.-1st | $2,500 | General Electric | $6,000 |
| Rep. | Wayne Edward | Whitfield | $2,500 | General Electric | |||
| Rep. | Wayne Edward | Whitfield | $1,000 | Philips | |||
| Rep. | Heather A | Wilson | R | N.M.-1st | $750 | Philips | $750 |
| Rep. | Robert J | Wittman | R | Va.-1st | $1,000 | Baxter | $2,000 |
| Rep. | Robert J | Wittman | $1,000 | General Electric | |||
| Rep. | John A Mr | Yarmuth | D | Ky.-3rd | $1,000 | Baxter | $2,000 |
| Rep. | John A Mr | Yarmuth | $1,000 | General Electric | |||
| Rep. | Donald E | Young | D | Alaska-at large | $1,000 | Baxter | $2,000 |
| Rep. | Donald E | Young | $1,000 | General Electric | |||
| SENATE | |||||||
| Sen. | John | Barrasso | R | Wyo. | $5,000 | Kinetic Concepts | $5,000 |
| Sen. | Max | Baucus | D | Wyo | $1,000 | Abbott | $2,000 |
| Sen. | Max | Baucus | D | Wyo | $1,000 | Becton, Dickinson | |
| Sen. | Roy | Blunt | R | Mo. | $2,000 | Boston Scientific | $2,000 |
| Sen. | Scott P | Brown | R | Mass. | $500 | Abbott | $5,500 |
| Sen. | Scott P | Brown | $1,500 | Abbott | |||
| Sen. | Scott P | Brown | $1,000 | Becton, Dickinson | |||
| Sen. | Scott P | Brown | $2,500 | Johnson & Johnson | |||
| Sen. | Sherrod | Brown | D | Ohio | $1,000 | Edwards Lifesciences | $4,000 |
| Sen. | Sherrod | Brown | $3,000 | Steris | |||
| Sen. | Thomas R | Carper | D | Del. | $1,000 | Abbott | $2,000 |
| Sen. | Thomas R | Carper | $1,000 | Abbott | |||
| Sen. | Robert P Jr | Casey | D | Pa. | $1,000 | Abbott | $3,000 |
| Sen. | Robert P Jr | Casey | $2,000 | Abbott | |||
| Sen. | Gaylord Kent | Conrad | D | N.D. | ($1,000) | Abbott | ($1,000) |
| Sen. | Gaylord Kent | Conrad | $1,000 | Fresenius | |||
| Sen. | Gaylord Kent | Conrad | ($1,000) | St. Jude Medical | |||
| Sen. | Robert P Jr | Corker | R | Tenn. | $1,000 | Boston Scientific | $3,000 |
| Sen. | Robert P Jr | Corker | $1,000 | Philips | |||
| Sen. | Robert P Jr | Corker | $1,000 | St. Jude Medical | |||
| Sen. | John | Cornyn | Texas | $5,000 | Kinetic Concepts | $5,000 | |
| Sen. | Michael B | Enzi | R | Wyo. | $2,000 | Boston Scientific | $2,000 |
| Sen. | Dianne | Feinstein | D | Calif. | $1,000 | Becton, Dickinson | $1,000 |
| Sen. | Kay R | Hagan | D | N.C. | $1,000 | Abbott | $1,000 |
| Sen. | Orrin G | Hatch | R. | Utah | $4,000 | Abbott | $14,000 |
| Sen. | Orrin G | Hatch | $5,000 | Boston Scientific | |||
| Sen. | Orrin G | Hatch | $5,000 | Edwards Lifesciences | |||
| Sen. | Dean | Heller | R | Nev. | $5,000 | Abbott | $6,000 |
| Sen. | Dean | Heller | $1,000 | Boston Scientific | |||
| Sen. | Robert | Menendez | D | N.J. | $2,500 | Becton, Dickinson | $2,500 |
| Sen. | Jerry | Moran | R | Kan. | $1,000 | Philips | $1,000 |
| Sen. | E Benjamin | Nelson | D | Neb. | $2,000 | Becton, Dickinson | $9,500 |
| Sen. | E Benjamin | Nelson | $2,000 | Boston Scientific | |||
| Sen. | E Benjamin | Nelson | $2,000 | Edwards Lifesciences | |||
| Sen. | E Benjamin | Nelson | $2,500 | Fresenius | |||
| Sen. | E Benjamin | Nelson | $1,000 | St. Jude Medical | |||
| Sen. | Marco | Rubio | R | Fla. | $1,000 | Philips | $1,000 |
| Sen. | Olympia J | Snowe | R | Maine | $1,000 | Fresenius | $1,000 |
| Sen. | Debbie Ms | Stabenow | D | Mich. | $1,000 | Edwards Lifesciences | $6,000 |
| Sen. | Debbie Ms | Stabenow | $2,000 | Fresenius | |||
| Sen. | Debbie Ms | Stabenow | $3,000 | Fresenius | |||
| Sen. | Roger F | Wicker | R | Miss. | $1,000 | Baxter | $4,000 |
| Sen. | Roger F | Wicker | $1,000 | Baxter | |||
| Sen. | Roger F | Wicker | $1,000 | General Electric | |||
| Sen. | Roger F | Wicker | $1,000 | General Electric | |||
| TOTAL | $296,750 | ||||||
Footer
