Drug Cards, Campaign Cash, and Fraud Charges

With the Medicare drug discount card program starting today, the Center for American Progress (where I work) released a new report showing that 20 of the 73 companies that the White House approved to participate in the program have been involved in federal/state fraud charges. These same 20 companies have significant ties to the Bush Administration. The report, entitled "Paying to Play," also finds:

- Those 20 companies involved in fraud charges gave more than $3 million to the President and conservatives in Congress since the 2000 election cycle. That represents more than 60% of the total contributions given to the President and conservatives from all 73 approved card companies.

- Seven of the President's "Pioneers" (those who raised $100,000 or more for him) work at companies approved for the program.

- Three of the seven Pioneers are linked to companies approved for the card program, even though their companies were involved in fraud.

The full study can be found here.