Health reform's 'gang of 6' reaps political cash HEALTH CARE

WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 17: U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), a member of the so called "Gang of Six," speaks to the media on Capitol Hill September 17, 2009 in Washington, DC. The Senate Finance Committee will begin the mark up for the healthcare reform bill on next Wednesday. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) less WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 17: U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), a member of the so called "Gang of Six," speaks to the media on Capitol Hill September 17, 2009 in Washington, DC. The Senate Finance Committee will ... more Photo: Alex Wong, Getty Images Photo: Alex Wong, Getty Images Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Health reform's 'gang of 6' reaps political cash 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The bipartisan "gang of six" senators who helped craft the health care reform bill going before a key Senate committee Tuesday represent less than 3 percent of the U.S. population - but they hold a lot of power at a crucial policy-shaping moment in Congress.

That's why, analysts say, health care industry lobbyists have showered them with more campaign cash on average than other senators this year, in an attempt to influence the outcome.

Three Republican and three Democratic senators in the group, all of them members of the Senate Finance Committee, received an average of $74,600 from health industry lobbyists, according to The Chronicle's analysis of records through June.

That is about 25 percent more than the average of $59,632 in such donations that the gang's other Senate colleagues raked in from lobbyists for the pharmaceutical, hospital, insurance and nursing home industries, according to the analysis, which was based on records compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonprofit watchdog group.

"Money buys access," said Henry Brady, a professor of public policy and dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley.

Campaign contributions - along with volatile public opinion, confusion about what's in the reform plans in Congress and a lack of clarity from President Obama on his vision of reform - could also "swing some Democrats to the center on health care," said Larry Berman, a professor of political science at UC Davis.

"I'm not saying it's the only thing, but it could be a factor," Berman said.

Grassley, Baucus at top

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Finance Committee who is seen as key to influencing other conservatives, received the most this year - $223,600. Committee chair Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., was second with $141,000.

In times of rowdy town hall meetings, middle-of-the-road Washington legislators hold more power in this increasingly pitched battle for a simple reason: They are seen as holding opinions that could be influenced, analysts said.

"There is not a quid pro quo but there is an expectation that a contribution gives you a chance to be heard by the member," said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks the influence of money on politics and government.

"Money is a huge consideration for members of Congress, who are constantly running for re-election," she said. "Their constituents aren't always running up to them on Capitol Hill. But these lobbyists are."

Baucus' $856 billion, 10-year bill, which is scheduled to be amended and voted on beginning Tuesday, has been criticized by liberals and conservatives across Capitol Hill.

Conservatives blasted the plan for increasing the tax burden on some Americans. The plan imposes a 35 percent excise tax on so-called "Cadillac" insurance plans that cost more than $8,000 a year per person, or $21,000 a year per family.

Liberals dislike the Baucus plan because it does not allow consumers to choose a government-run insurance option, which could hold down costs by promoting competition with private insurers.

Baucus' bill would allow cooperatives to sell insurance as a form of competition for private insurers, but Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf said co-ops "seem unlikely to establish a significant market presence in many areas of the country."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco has held off on a House vote until the Senate acts. She has not decided how to move forward.

Blue Dog Democrats

In the House, the key players are the conservative, Blue Dog Democrats. Their 52 members are self-described fiscal conservatives who largely represent southern and Midwestern districts that swing back and forth between Democrats and Republicans.

Blue Dogs have received an average of $31,467 from health care lobbyists this year, more than the $27,385 average of other House members, according to federal figures compiled by The Chronicle.

But that dynamic doesn't hold true among California Democrats. The Golden State's seven Blue Dogs received less on average than their generally more conservative Blue Dog colleagues in other states, and less than California's other Democrats.

One reason: California is home to some of the House's top leaders, including Pelosi and committee chairs, including Rep. Pete Stark, D-Fremont, and Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles. Committee chairs generally pull in more campaign contributions because of the power they wield over the legislative flow.

"The feeling among the health care lobbyists may be that the California Democrats wouldn't be able to contradict their leadership," Berman said.

Online: Find out how much in campaign contributions your senator or representative received from the health care industry at sfgate.com/ZIES.