Top House Republican becomes chief US drug company lobbyist

By Patrick Martin
18 December 2004

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The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the Washington lobby representing US drug manufacturers, announced December 15 that it was naming Republican Congressman W. J. “Billy” Tauzin of Louisiana as its president and CEO.

The retiring chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee certainly earned the position, believed to pay as much as $2 million a year, 15 times his congressional salary. He played a leading role in shepherding through Congress last year the Medicare prescription drug bill that will bring a windfall of as much as $200 billion for the US pharmaceuticals industry.