When President Trump was elected, President, it was based on promises to “drain the swamp.” While there is heated debate existing over the matter as to whether or not the President has begun such process, or whether he used the famous campaign rhetoric to get elected, hardly any of us can argue that the issue is real. The “swamp,” as it is termed, is also a place where dirty politicians are paid off by pharmaceutical companies, allowing pharma to buy votes and laws.

As is the case with New York state senator, Kemp Hannon. Hannon took over $400,000 from pharmaceutical companies. He also has pushed for a meningitis vaccine law that would make the vaccine mandatory for 7th to 12 graders.

Via New York Daily News:

Sen. Kemp Hannon (R-Nassau County) in 2014 invested in 14 companies that would fall under his committee’s purview. By comparison, Assembly Health Committee Chairman Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan) did not report owning any stock in health-related companies. In addition to his investments, Hannon over the past four years also received more than $420,000 from pharmaceutical and other medical interests, records show. Hannon’s office had no comment. On the part of his 2014 state financial disclosure form dealing with investments, he wrote that sales and purchases were ‘at sole discretion of the broker.’

His “broker,” he claims, absorbed the financial bliss. This is, of course, a layer of plausible deniability for Hannon. If only this were Hannon’s only potential impropriety, he might somewhat have a case. But it isn’t. There’s more via the same source.

Sen. Kemp Hannon (R-Nassau County) sponsored a $30,000 state grant in 2007-08 to Winthrop University Hospital on Long Island, according to state records posted online. The money was to help the hospital continue with outreach programs, according to the records. In 2008-09, Hannon sponsored another $35,000 grant to the hospital that was for “community health,” records show. Two other grants, totaling $20,000, went to an organization that was working with Winthrop pediatric residents. In addition to being a senator since 1989, Hannon since the mid 1980s has been a “special counsel” with the Long Island-based Farrell Fritz PC . The firm has represented Winthrop University Hospital in cases dating back to 1993, and had cases at the time Hannon secured the two grants. In addition, the firm’s managing partner, Charles Strain, has served as the unpaid chairman the hospital’s board of directors. [sic]

Kickbacks are essentially guiding legislation that drives pharmaceutical companies’ revenue.