By selecting former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) to head the Health and Human Services Department, Barack Obama is tapping the expertise of a man whose political campaigns in the public sector and salary in the private sector have been paid, in part, by the health care industry. During his congressional career, which ended in 2004 when Republican John Thune unseated him, Daschle received at least $824,300 from health professionals, making the group his sixth most generous donor. The health sector as a whole contributed more than $1.5 million to him. He also collected $3.2 million from lawyers, many of whom were likely trial lawyers with a stake in health insurance issues. During his last term in the Senate, Daschle brought in more money from nurses ($18,950) and chiropractors ($20,900) than all but three other senators. He was the No. 3 recipient from hospitals and nursing homes ($134,640).
After his loss in the Senate, Daschle took a position as public policy adviser for law and lobbying firm Alston & Bird. He is not registered to lobby, but the firm's website says Daschle advises clients on health care, trade, taxes and financial services. The firm's lobbying clients include pharmaceutical company Roche (which has paid $90,000 for Alston & Bird's services in 2008), Mylan Laboratories (which has paid $150,000), Lifescan (which paid $90,000) and Caremark Rx (which paid $170,000). So far this year, Alston & Bird's lobbying clients have paid $5.9 million for the firm's services.
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