Amid Opioid Epidemic, Big Pharma Gives Big Money To Ohio Politicians

As Ohio's heroin overdose epidemic nears a record high in deaths, lobbyists representing prescription drug makers poured more than 3.5 million into Ohio political coffers over the last decade. Data analyzed by the Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity shows pharmaceutical companies and allied groups belonging to the Pain Care Forum lobbying collective gave nearly 2.5 million dollars to federal candidates from Ohio from 2006 through 2015. State-level giving of more than 1 million dollars went to candidates of both parties, including those in positions to shape Ohio health law.  Then-U.S. House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio received the most among federal candidates. Governor John Kasich got the most among state candidates. Both are Republicans. Top state donors were Pfizer, Abbott Labs, Merck and Johnson & Johnson.