From Thinkprogress.org:
Buried in last week’s 16-count indictment of Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA), it describes how Jefferson introduced one of his alleged bribers to “a Member of the House Of Representatives, who was a prominent member of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection, for the purpose of garnering support” for the briber’s company. Today, Roll Call has revealed that the “mystery lawmaker” is former Louisiana Rep. Billy Tauzin (R), who ended up penning a 2002 letter praising the company, iGate, Incorporated.
And who is Billy Tauzin?
Tauzin was criticised by Democrats early in 2004 when it was rumoured he was negotiating with the drug industry over a possible job. Tauzin had spent almost a full year shepherding the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Bill through Congress. The pharmaceutical industry will reap windfall profits from the Medicare drug bill. Tauzin would head the organization called Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
PhRMA, the trade association for the drug industry, had approached Tauzin while he was in negotiations for the top lobbying job at the Motion Picture Association of America. More importantly, the House committee oversees the drug industry as well as the telecommunications, media and entertainment industries, and Tauzin, whose committee shared jurisdiction over Medicare, had shortly before helped write and promote a controversial Medicare prescription drug benefit for the elderly.
PhRMA, the trade association for the drug industry, had approached Tauzin while he was in negotiations for the top lobbying job at the Motion Picture Association of America. More importantly, the House committee oversees the drug industry as well as the telecommunications, media and entertainment industries, and Tauzin, whose committee shared jurisdiction over Medicare, had shortly before helped write and promote a controversial Medicare prescription drug benefit for the elderly.
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